The Effect of a Physical Activity Education Programme in the Hospital Workplace Setting

1
The Effect of a Physical Activity Education
Programme in the Hospital Workplace Setting
Parallel Sessions IV Friday, May 20, 2005,
Session IV Health promotion for hospital staff -
Coping with work related risks and
developing health promoting lifestyles

• Sohun, R., MacDonncha C., Breen, A. Neeson, B.

13th International Health Promotion Conference,
Dublin May 18th-20th 2005
2
INTRODUCTION

• Sedentary behaviour is a leading contributor to
  chronic health problems (European Heart Network,
  1999)
• The workplace has been identified as a setting
  for health promotion intervention
• Physical activity participation rates of young
  women are low (National Health Lifestyle
  Surveys, 1998 2002)
• 1998 2002
• Participation in Mild Physical Activity
  25 17
• Participation in Moderate Physical Activity
  44 41
• Participation in Strenuous Physical Activity
  8 8
• No participation in Physical Activity 14 21

3
Success of Physical Activity Programmes is
Dependent on a Number of Factors
Access to Education
4
OBJECTIVE

• To examine the effectiveness of a 10-week
• educational physical activity intervention called
  
• ACTIVE WAYS on the physical activity behaviour
  of sedentary young female staff in a
• hospital setting

5
METHODOLOGY
Physical Activity Lifestyle Survey

• Distribution of a Physical Activity Lifestyle
  Survey to females (18-40 years) in 2 hospitals
  (n719 Regional Hospital, n150 Maternity
  Hospital)
• Overall Response Rate 38
• Respondents categorised according to
• Willingness/Interest to attend a PA programme
• Suitablility according to the PAR-Q (Health
  Screen)
• Physical Activity Stage of Change Model

6
Physical Activity Stage of Change Model (Marcus
et al, 1992)

• Proposes 5 stages of readiness for adopting
  physical activity
• Pre-Contemplators
• Contemplators
• Preparation
• Action
• Maintenance

7
SAMPLE

• Intervention Group
• 62 invited to participate (fit criteria)
• 27 signed up
• 23 began the programme (mean age 32.95.4 years)
• Received the intervention

• Control Group
• 24 invited to participate
• 9 participated (mean age 29.45.3 years)
• Received no intervention

8

• INTERVENTION
• 10-week programme
• 1hr weekly in the hospital
• Supported by hospital mgmt
• Participant Workbook
• Time management
• Activity Types
• Barriers to Physical Activity
• Measuring Progress (included PA)
• Social Support
• Goal Setting
• Healthy Eating X 2
• Assistance with planning PA
• Pedometer

9
INTERVENTION MEASURES

• Body Mass Index
• Stage of Change
• Physical Activity History
• Mediators of Physical Activity
• Processes of Change
• Self-Efficacy
• Decisional Balance
• Outcome Expectations for Exercise
• Enjoyment of Exercise

• Pre, Post, 6 month time points (Intervention
  Group)
• Pre, Post (Control Group)

10
RESULTS POST INTERVENTION

• INTERVENTION GRP
• 78 ? PA by 1-2 stages
• Attendance at ? 50 sessions (gt change)
• Improvement in Mediators of Physical Activity
• 8 of 10 Processes of Change
• Decisional Balance
• Self-Efficacy
• Outcome Exp for PA
• Enjoyment for PA
• (p?0.05)

• CONTROL GRP
• 45 ? PA by 1 stage
• No significant differences in control group on
  Mediators of Physical Activity

11
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

• Methodology
• Field Notes from Informal Interviews (post
  intervention)
• Inductive analysis for Primary Themes
• ? Sustaining Physical Activity
• ? Barriers to Attending the Programme
• ? Physical Activity Levels on Entry to Programme

• Primary Theme
• ? SUSTAINING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• ? Challenges
• ? Supports

12
Challenges to Sustaining PA
13
Supports for Physical Activity
14
Physical Activity Levels on Entry to Programme
15
RESULTS 6 MONTHS POST (INTERVENTION GROUP ONLY
n21)

• 14 moved positively by 1 or 2 stages
• 19 retained their positive change
• 10 remained unchanged in contemplative stage
• 57 regressed by 1 or 2 stages
• Improvement in self-efficacy and 2 processes of
  change (p?0.05)
• Regression on 8 processes of change, decisional
  balance enjoyment for PA (p?0.05)
• No significant regression from pre-intervention
  to 6-month follow up occurred. Positive trends
  overall.

16
CONCLUSION

• Intervention was successful at changing physical
  activity behaviour of sedentary female hospital
  employees.
• To maintain change additional support may be
  required.
• Recommendations Considerations
• Size of the workplace (adequate sample)
• Time of programme (consideration for shift
  patterns)
• Support from Hospital Management is essential
• Inclusion of Physical Activity during Programme
• Physical Activity Goal (individual or group) on
  finishing programme