these positive studies along • Referral to an exercise specialist, with differences in populations, based in the community, can lead the intensity of the intervention to longer-term (>8 months) and the duration of the study changes in physical activity make consistent and • Short-term effectiveness of generalised advice on policy primary prevention interventions is difficult. However, the effective associated with single-factor interventions share a number of interventions (physical activity common attributes: only) that focus on the promotion • Providing individually tailored of moderate-intensity physical advice about behaviour change activity (typically walking) in a delivered verbally with written sedentary population. support • Setting goals for behaviour 2 SRs looked at community change settings: • Encouraging self-monitoring -Interventions targeting • Exploring cognitive and individuals in community settings behavioural factors associated are effective in producing with behaviour change term changes in physical activity, including beliefs about the costs and are likely to be effective in and benefits of physical producing mid- to long-term activity, reinforcement of changes in physical activity changes in physical activity, • Interventions based on theories perception of the health risks of of behaviour change, which teach physical inactivity, confidence behavioural skills and are tailored to engage in physical activity to individual needs, are associated • Providing ongoing verbal with longer-term changes in support behaviour than interventions • Providing occasional reviews without a theoretical base of progress after the completion • Interventions that promote of the intervention moderate intensity physical • Promoting moderate intensity activity, particularly walking, and activity such as walking are not facility dependent, are also • Not requiring attendance at a associated with longer-term
these positive studies along with differences in populations, the intensity of the intervention and the duration of the study make consistent and generalised advice on policy difficult. However, the effective interventions share a number of common attributes: • Providing individually tailored advice about behaviour change delivered verbally with written support • Setting goals for behaviour change • Encouraging self-monitoring • Exploring cognitive and behavioural factors associated with behaviour change including beliefs about the costs and benefits of physical activity, reinforcement of changes in physical activity, perception of the health risks of physical inactivity, confidence to engage in physical activity • Providing ongoing verbal support • Providing occasional reviews of progress after the completion of the intervention • Promoting moderate intensity activity such as walking • Not requiring attendance at a • Referral to an exercise specialist, based in the community, can lead to longer-term (>8 months) changes in physical activity • Short-term effectiveness of primary prevention interventions is associated with single-factor interventions (physical activity only) that focus on the promotion of moderate-intensity physical activity (typically walking) in a sedentary population. 2 SRs looked at community settings: -Interventions targeting individuals in community settings are effective in producing changes in physical activity, and are likely to be effective in producing mid- to long-term changes in physical activity • Interventions based on theories of behaviour change, which teach behavioural skills and are tailored to individual needs, are associated with longer-term changes in behaviour than interventions without a theoretical base • Interventions that promote moderate intensity physical activity, particularly walking, and are not facility dependent, are also associated with longer-term term