Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway: Evaluation Report

Baker, Colin ORCID: 0000-0001-8971-2829, Crone, Diane ORCID: 0000-0002-8798-2929, Gidlow, Christopher and James, David V ORCID: 0000-0002-0805-7453 (2011) Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway: Evaluation Report. Project Report. University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester.

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Abstract

The Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway (YPPAP) is a pilot six week behavioural intervention (a physical activity pathway) aimed at increasing physical activity levels in school-aged children in school years 6 and 7 (ages 10-12 yrs). It builds on the experiences of the South Staffordshire (SS) Physical Activity Care Pathway (PACP), but was developed specifically to focus on school-age young people in an urban city setting. For the purposes of the evaluation a mixed-methods approach including a quantitative and qualitative component was employed. Data analysis revealed that of the 239 eligible participants, 99 entered the pathway (31.2%). Ninety-three participants set physical goals at baseline and 3 were lost to follow up representing a pathway completion rate of 97% (n = 90). Overall, the results indicated that the increase in ‘spare time’ physical activity was statistically significant (t(95)=-2.88, p=.005), but the differences were not significant for overall physical activity (t(95)=-.096, p=.924), or mean frequency of physical activity (t(95)=-.414, p=.680). Analysis also revealed that the correlation between change in physical activity between baseline and follow up and the number of goals set by participants was not significant (r = 0.08, p =.436). Qualitative findings revealed that participants perceived that the pathway had helped to educate them about the relationship between physical activity and health and had provided a means of engaging with physical activity in a way that was fun and non-threatening. Delivery costs were also calculated taking into account management and delivery costs, including resources, training and support, the total cost per child of delivering the intervention was £143. The high completion rate might point to the utility of using school settings for physical activity interventions. Problematically, the limited sample size prevented the meaningful investigation of any relationship between the physical activity options chosen by young participants and outcomes in terms of potential increases in levels of physical activity. Similarly, it was not possible to fully investigate the potential effects of gender, class, ethnicity, disability status on adherence to the pathway or physical activity behaviour. More usefully, data analysis revealed that the pathway attracted a range of participants which demonstrated potential for securing the interest and motivation of participants. This finding underpins the importance of understanding the number, variety and availability of local physical activity opportunities and delivering the intervention in a way that is engaging and supportive.

Item Type: Monograph (Project Report)
Related URLs:
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Divisions: Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas: Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User: Diane Crone
Date Deposited: 17 Jun 2015 17:44
Last Modified: 31 Aug 2023 09:10
URI: https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/2360

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