Short-and Long-Term Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Intervention with Coordinated Action between the Health Care Sector and Local Sports Clubs. A Pragmatic Trial in Austrian Adults

Sylvia Titze, Wolfgang Schebesch-Ruf, Christian Lackinger, Lena Großschädl, Albert Strehn, Thomas E. Dorner and Josef Niebauer
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Sylvia Titze: Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria
Wolfgang Schebesch-Ruf: German University of Health and Sports, Vulkanstraße 1, 10367 Berlin, Germany
Christian Lackinger: Austrian Public Health Association, Alser Straße 4, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Lena Großschädl: Social Insurance Authority for Business, Regional Office Styria, Körblergasse 115, 8010 Graz, Austria
Albert Strehn: Competence Center Health Promotion, Social Insurance Authority for Business, Osterwiese 2, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria
Thomas E. Dorner: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Josef Niebauer: Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Lindhofstrasse 20, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-11

Abstract: (1) Background: Collaboration between the health care sector and the sports sector to increase physical activity (PA) behaviour among inactive adults is still rare. The objective of the study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of a mixed PA intervention on the PA behaviour in an adult population. (2) Methods: In a quasi-experimental study with two follow-up measurements (four and 12 months), adults were contacted by post before their stay in a health resort. During the health resort stay, the intervention group (IG) received PA counselling and a coupon for 12 standardised free-of-charge sessions in a sports club. The participants in the comparator group (CG) received PA counselling and written material. PA was measured with an accelerometer (GENEActive). Linear mixed-effects models were applied to examine the change in PA behaviour, both within and between groups in moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA over time. (3) Results: We obtained at least one follow-up measurement from 217 participants (IG = 167, CG = 50), who were 50% female, with an average age of 53 (±6) years. PA significantly increased from the baseline to the four-month measurement by 58 min./wk (95% CI 36, 80) and to the 12-month measurement by 24 min./wk (95% CI 2, 46) within the IG. No change in PA occurred in the CG. We also found a short-term between-group (IG vs. CG) difference in change over time, but not a long-term difference. (4) Conclusions: The study confirms that a collaboration between the health care sector and local sports clubs is a feasible method of recruiting people into a standardised PA programme and to increase their PA over the long term.

Keywords: inter-sectoral collaboration; standardised sports club programme; health care sector; physical activity; counselling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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