Exercise referral schemes in the UK: mapping provision and aims.

Jane, Ben and Downey, John (2024) Exercise referral schemes in the UK: mapping provision and aims. Journal of public health (Oxford, England). ISSN 1741-3850

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Abstract

Exercise Referral Schemes (ERS) are designed so health professionals can refer certain patients to a supervised programme of physical activity. However, evaluations have questioned the effectiveness of these schemes/programmes. The aim of this study was to systematically review the provision of ERS in England and analyse related promotional material. Content analysis methods were used to analyse scheme websites and promotional material. A coding scheme was used to analyse the data, which included information on the programme's aims, inclusion criteria, type of activities, accessibility and cost. The study identified 625 sites offering ERS across 168 geographic areas. Findings highlighted a lack of clarity in what constitutes a scheme. Over a third of schemes did not explicitly state their aims, but of those that did, the focus was mainly on notions of physical and mental health benefits. This study is the first to review the scope and offer of ERS in the UK by examining promotional material and highlights issues around the stated aims of ERS. More clarity on aims is needed in the material that promotes the schemes and most likely within the schemes themselves. Such improvements could make a difference when considering engagement with delivery stakeholders and potential participants. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.]

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	** From PubMed via Jisc Publications Router ** History: received 18-06-2023; revised 09-02-2024; accepted 12-04-2024.
Keywords:	health promotion, physical activity
SWORD Depositor:	JISCRouter
Depositing User:	JISCRouter
Date Deposited:	22 May 2024 11:18
Last Modified:	22 May 2024 11:39
URI:	https://marjon.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17834

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