| For further information regarding any of the current evaluation projects please contact Karen Milton on 01509 223258 or email K.Milton@lboro.ac.uk |
Current Projects
The BHFNC produces a large number of resources aimed at professionals working in physical activity promotion. Ongoing evaluation of these resources is carried out in order to make improvements and developments to meet the needs of practitioners. This page contains information on the evaluation of BHFNC resources as well as other evaluation projects that the BHFNC is currently involved in.
Evaluation of the Physical Activity Care Pathway London Feasibility Pilot
The aim of this work is to assess the feasibility of implementing a newly developed care pathway on physical activity.
The Physical Activity Care Pathway (PACP) involves the use of the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ) to assess patients' current physical activity levels. Patients identified as insufficiently active receive a brief consultation using motivational interviewing techniques to explore their readiness to change behaviour. Patients considered ready to change receive support in goal setting and are signposted to a range of relevant physical activity opportunities, including structured activity ( e.g. group, class or centre-based activities), self directed activity (e.g. pedometer/walking programmes or active travel) or relevant supervised options for patients with clinical needs (e.g. exercise on referral, falls prevention).
Wave one of the pilot project is currently underway with 6 PCTs across London, with a second wave of PCT's due to start early in 2008. The purpose of the evaluation is to learn from the experiences of health professionals and participants about the feasibility of implementing the care pathway and to develop a best practice model. The evaluation is due for completion in September 2008.
Active Club Resource Pack for Out of School Clubs
Phase 1 (2003/2004)
The BHFNC has produced an evaluation of phase 1 (2003/2004) of the regional Tutor Training days for promoting the use of the Active Club Pack.
Click here to access this evaluation.
Phase 2 (2004/2005)
The Phase 1 evaluation report highlighted a number of key issues which were raised for consideration and addressed in the design and roll out of phase 2 regional tutor training. As a result, this was extended to a wider audience to include those working in the health and sports development sectors.
A second evaluation report was produced which examined the effectiveness of these changes, not only at tutor level but also how they cascaded down to those receiving locally focussed Active Club Pack workshops.
The evaluation revealed that the wider dissemination of Active Club Pack was received very well and confirmed the relevance of ACP as a useful tool to improve the delivery of physical activity to children and young people
Click here to access the evaluation from phase 2.
In order to establish the current situation and identify any potential development, a wider evaluation of Active Club Pack has recently been completed. The objectives of this evaluation were to;
- Gain feedback on Active Club Pack and the associated training
- Establish the impact that the above had within clubs
- Identify any changes and developments needed in the Active Club Pack and/or training
- Explore additional ideas and support that playworkers would like
- Map the geographical spread of clubs and tutors involved in Active Clubs
- Review current arrangements with tutors
Further to previous positive evaluations, the Active Club Pack continues to be regarded favourably and remains a relevant and attractive resource for those working in out of school physical activity provision.
Click here to access the most recent evaluation of the Active Club Pack programme.
Well @ Work
Well @ Work is a joint programme led by the British Heart Foundation with funding from Active England (Sport England and Big Lottery Fund’s joint awards programme) and the Department of Health. It is a £1.5m, two-year programme to test ways of getting England’s workplaces healthier.
The Well @ Work programme aims to highlight ways of improving diet, increasing physical activity and reducing smoking and discover what changes in and around the workplace can effect positive differences in employees’ health and achieve a lasting improvement to their lifestyles.
Well @ Work will involve nine pilot research projects across the country to trial methods of ‘healthy interventions’ aimed at improving the health of employees at a variety of workplaces. The aim is to establish which changes made in and around the workplace positively influence employees’ lifestyles and improve their health and which do not.
No such project has ever been tried in the UK before and it is hoped the outcomes could influence public health policy.
Increasing physical activity will be a major focus, but projects will also be aimed at encouraging better diets, giving up smoking, reducing alcohol intake and other lifestyle changes. The methods will include everything from using pedometers to encourage more walking, to workplace awareness campaigns on smoking, physical activity, alcohol and diet. Attention will also be paid to the working environment and how this can influence employees’ health.
Some projects will involve single employers across a range of sites while other projects will involve multiple employers across a region or county.
The projects are also taking place in two phases - phase one beginning in June 2005 and phase two by September 2005.
The programme will be evaluated by the University of Loughborough throughout and a report produced at the end with recommendations. The regional projects will each be delivered by a regional partnership or collaboration, including representatives from Primary Care Trusts, local government, business forums and industry.
As well as being important nationally, the programme has a very strong local angle in the areas where the pilots are taking place, as the programme will involve local people and local employers in a national scheme.
NEW! Download the Well@Work evaluation report and appendices
NEW! Download the Well@Work summary report and call to action
For more information about the project, visit the sharing the learning webpage on the BHF website
If you have a general enquiry about the project, please send an email to
workplacehealth@bhf.org.uk
Hard copies of the summary report and the DVD can be ordered from the BHF publications website or by calling 0870 600 6566. Please quote the following codes when ordering:
NEW! Well@Work Promoting active and healthy lifestyles DVD (DVD23)
NEW! Well@Work Summary report and call to action (G397)
Schools on the Move
A recent evaluation of the Schools On the Move pedometer pilot has recently been completed by staff at the London Sports Institute, Middlesex University. The project was deemed very successful among both pupils and teachers with pupil’s daily step counts increasing steadily from an average of 8,355 steps at baseline to 16,436 at the end of the project. Additionally, there was evidence to suggest that the project was equally successful in increasing the activity levels of both low active and high active pupils as well as appealing to and increasing the activity levels of the more sedentary pupils. To download a copy of the Schools on the Move evaluation report please click here
Primary Care Physical Activity Toolkit
We need your help!
The BHFNC are undertaking an evaluation of the Primary Care Physical Activity Toolkit produced in 2001. We are seeking feedback from professionals who have used the toolkit in the last few years. In addition we are also keen to have professionals views on how to update the content, design and format of the Primary Care Physical Activity Toolkit.
If you have a few minutes to spare to complete the evaluation questionnaire please email Kim Buxton at K.E.Buxton@lboro.ac.uk or Karen Milton at K.Milton@lboro.ac.uk to obtain a copy of the questionnaire.
In addition, in mid-February we will be holding a series of focus group interviews with professionals who have a role or responsibility for promoting physical activity in primary care to find out what is needed to support professionals in their role. If you would like to contribute to this formative research please contact Kim Buxton on 01509223267 or email K.E.Buxton@lboro.ac.uk or contact Karen Milton on 01509 223258 or email K.Milton@lboro.ac.uk
Physical activity evaluation toolkit and training
The BHFNC is aware that practitioners need guidance in order to effectively evaluate physical activity interventions. The Centre hopes to develop a physical activity evaluation toolkit in the near future, which will enable practitioners to carry out self-evaluation. Following the development of the toolkit, regional workshops will be conducted to introduce the toolkit to practitioners and to demonstrate how it can be applied to physical activity interventions across a variety of populations and settings.
If you are involved in health promotion and would like to have input as to what practitioners would like to see included in the evaluation toolkit, or would like a workshop to take place in your region please contact the BHFNC on 01509 223258 or email Karen Milton at K.Milton@lboro.ac.uk
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