IFI National Conference

1
Inclusive Fitness InitiativeNational Conference
2006

• DIY Research
• Ken Black, Director
• Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport
• Loughborough University

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Session format

• Peter Harrison Centre
• Recent relevant research
• DIY research

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Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport

• Two guiding principles
• Social / environmental approach
• Emancipatory Disability Research

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Current relevant national research

• Taking Part survey
• Participation in at least one active sport by
  people with a limiting disability in the
  previous 4 weeks was 31.3 of those surveyed, in
  comparison with 51.9 of the population as a
  whole.
• (DCMS/National Statistics 2005/2006)
• www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Research/taki
  ng_part_survey/

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Current relevant national research

• Active People survey
• The percentage of adults participating in at
  least 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport and
  active recreation (including recreational
  walking) on at least 3 or more days a week.
• Leicestershire 20.5 Leicester UA 18.9
• Westminster 25.1
• (Sport England Oct 2005-Apr 2006)
• www.activepeoplesurvey.com/
• www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/research/
  tracking/active_people_survey.htm

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Active People survey

• Participation
• People with a limiting longstanding illness or
  disability 8.8
• Adults 16 years plus 21
• 16-24 year olds 32.7
• 55-64 year olds 16.0

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Other projects

• LEAP project - Local Exercise Action Pilots
• LEAP was a 2.5 million joint initiative between
  Sport England, Natural England and Department of
  Health which tested different ways of helping
  less active people to do more exercise.
• 10 pilots one in each PCT area
• Range of targeted interventions

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LEAP

• Selected key findings
• Participants designated as sedentary, lightly
  active, moderately active and highly active (pre
  LEAP)
• Participants designated sedentary prior to LEAP
  intervention 28.6 moved into highly active
  group
• 30.9 of lightly active moved into highly active
  group
• Greatest positive change occurs in people who are
  sedentary or lightly active
• http//www.sportengland.org/index/news_and_media/l
  eap_programme.htm

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Active ageing research PHC/IFI

• Motivational aspects affecting the status of
  older disabled people participating in the
  Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) programme
• Aims of the research
• Determine motivational factors affecting the
  exercise habits of older disabled adults.
• Collect additional information, including
• - frequency duration of exercise
• - exercise background of participants
• - self-perceived outcomes and benefits.
• Provide an opportunity for open, individual
  comment.
• (Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport
  Sept 06)

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Subjects

• people aged 60 years or older
• who had a physical or sensory impairment, and
• who participated in an exercise programme at a
  recognised IFI site.
• 22 subjects 13 female and 9 male
• mean age 68.6 youngest 57, oldest 89
• range of physical, sensory medical issues
• 22 semi-structured interviews of 25-30 minutes
  duration.

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Motivation

• Two main questions
• What had motivated subjects to commence or
  re-commence exercise?
• What were the main motivators that helped them
  sustain their participation?

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Reasons for starting the programme

• 9 subjects as a result of a GP referral
• 8 following information/prompting from friends or
  family
• 4 through a fitness professional (2 outreach)
• One subject was inspired by disabled sportspeople

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Motivational factors

• Based on self-determination motivation scale
  developed by Matsumoto et al (2003)
• intrinsic motivation exercise itself is fun
• identified regulation through exercise I can
  improve myself
• introjected regulation I feel guilty if I do
  not exercise
• external regulation I exercise because others
  say that I should
• amotivation I dont know why I exercise

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Motivating factors - modified

• Factor Subjects
• enjoyment of exercise - 17
• to improve health - 22
• guilt - 15
• influence of others - 10
• social aspects - 15

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Exercise outcomes

• Exercise benefit Subjects
• better health - 21
• more energy - 14
• improved concentration - 8
• more social contacts - 15
• better flexibility - 8
• improved mobility - 8

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Selected key findings

• All 22 subjects identified health as the main
  motivation for commencing and sustaining
  exercise.
• Subjects reported a range of benefits of exercise
  participation.
• Many felt that there was a lack of information
  about exercise opportunities for older disabled
  people.
• The commitment and support of staff was
  recognised.
• All said that they would recommend participation
  in exercise.

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DIY Research

• Whats research for?
• Why do we need it?

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A research plan

• Why do you need to conduct research?
• What do you want to know?
• Who do you need to research?
• How will you go about it?
• Where will you use the results?

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Why?

• Commitment to inclusion
• Need to attract new customers
• Need to develop or assess new opportunities

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What?

• Potential new market or service
• Benefits of a particular activity
• New approach to an existing programme

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Who?

• Specific population
• New or potential customers
• Consultation

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How?

• Select a methodology
• Adapt to the needs of the subjects
• Enable subjects to shape research

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Where?

• Analysis
• Best use of information
• Sharing the information

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Research methods

• Surveys
• Interviews
• 1-to-1
• Telephone
• Questionnaires
• Opinion polls
• Market research / customer care

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Thank you

• Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport
• www.peterharrisoncentre.org.uk
• www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sses/institutes/phc
• Email phc_at_lboro.ac.uk