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Table 2 Randomized controlled trials included in the evidence synthesis

From: Exploring equity in primary-care-based physical activity interventions using PROGRESS-Plus: a systematic review and evidence synthesis

Author

Harvest Plot reference

Location

Sample Size

Sample characteristics

PROGRESS Plus measures

Intervention

Control

Physical activity measure

Longest Follow-up

Intervention effective overall?

Oxcheck study group (1994) [39]

1

UK

6124

35–64 year old general practice registered patients

Differential effects: gender

Health check involving nurse counselling to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Waiting list

Self-report: frequency of vigorous intensity activity (<1 session/month)

12 months

yes

Measured: gender, social capital (marital status), socio-economic status (social class), age

Activity Counseling Trial writing group (2001) [40]

2

US

874

35–75 year primary care patients, inactive, in stable health, English speaking, independent living, able to increase activity

Differential effects: gender

Intervention 1: control group intervention plus a behavioural counselling session with health educator and follow-up phone call.

Physician advice on national physical activity recommendations and information from an on-site health educator.

Self-report:7 day PAR (energy expenditure)

24 months

N/A – only gender subgroups presented

Measured: race, occupation (employment status), social capital (marital status), socio-economic status (income), age

Objective V02 Max

Intervention 2: intervention 1 plus continual telephone follow-up over follow-up.

Burton et al. (1995) [41]

3

US

4195

>65 year community dwelling Medicare beneficiaries

Differential effects: disability (Quality of well-being scale)

Preventative health visit delivered by primary care physician and follow-up behavioural counselling if necessary

Pamphlet from American Association of Retired Persons

Self-report: frequency of physical activity (sedentary if <3 sessions/week)

24 months

No

Measured: race, gender, education (years completed), social capital (marital status), socio-economic status (income), age, disability

Carroll et al. (2010) [42]

4

US

394

Adult primary care patients, inactive, able to increase activity

Differential effects: race, gender

Computer tailored feedback based on self-reported physical activity

Computer tailored feedback report on preventative tests

Self-report:7 day PAR (energy expenditure)

6 months

No

Measured: race, occupation (employment status), gender, education (level), social capital (marital status), socio-economic status (income), age

Conroy et al. (2014) [43]

5

US

99

45–64 year old, female primary care patients with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, able to increase activity

Differential effects: race

Interventionist led 12-weekly group programme incorporating activity goal setting, pedometer and activity self-tracker and mindfulness concepts

Self-guided 12-weekly programme based on the American Health Association’s ‘Choose to Move’ Programme

Self-report: Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ; MET hours/week total activity)

12 months

No

Measured: race, education, social capital (marital status), age

Glasgow et al. (2012) [44]

6

US

463

25–75 year primary care patients with type 2 diabetes, body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 and one risk factor for heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoker), English or Spanish speaking, able to increase activity

Differential effects: race, gender, education (level), age

Intervention 1: internet-based computer assisted diabetes self-management intervention

Enhanced usual care (computerised health risk appraisal feedback)

Self-report: CHAMPS questionnaire (energy expenditure)

12 months

Yes

Measured: race, gender, education, social capital (chronic illness resource survey), socio-economic status (income), age

Intervention 2: intervention 1 plus human support

Grandes et al. (2011) [45]

7

Spain

4317

20–80 family physician registered patients, inactive, stable health

Differential effects: gender, age

Brief physician advice and information plus individualised physical activity plan

Usual care

Self-report:7 day PAR (frequency and duration of physical activity)

24 months

No

Measured: occupation (work situation), gender, education (level), socio-economic status (social class), age, disability (health related quality of life)

Objective V02 Max

Halbert et al. (2000) [46]

8

Australia

299

>60 community dwelling general practice patients, inactive, independent living, stable health, able to increase activity

Differential effects: gender

Exercise trainer session plus individualised physical activity advice and plan

Pamphlet promoting good nutrition for older adults

Self-report:7 day activity log (frequency and duration of physical activity)

12 months

Yes

Measured: age

Objective: accelerometer (energy expenditure)

Harrison et al. (2004) [47]

9

UK

545

>18 year primary care patients eligible for exercise referral schemes (inactive with risk factors for coronary heart disease)

Differential effects: gender, age

Exercise referral scheme consisting of consultation with exercise officer, written information and reduced entrance fees to a local leisure centre

Leaflets promoting physical activity for health and well-being

Self-report:7 day PAR (frequency and duration of physical activity)

12 months

No

Measured: race, gender, age

Harris et al., (2015) [48]

10

UK

 

60–74 year old, general practice registered patients, able to increase activity

Differential effects: gender, age, social capital (participating as a couple), disability (Townsend Disability score)

Pedometer, plus face-to-face consultations with practice nurse incorporating behaviour change techniques, handbook and walking plan

Usual care

Objective: accelerometer (change in average daily step count)

3 months

Yes

Measured: race, occupation (retired), gender, education, social capital, Socio-economic status (IMD), age, disability

Huber et al., (2015) [49]

11

US

90

18–55 year, obese (BMI ≥ 30 ≤ 39.9 ky/m2) primary care registered patients

Differential effects: gender

Portion control plate with instructions plus tele-coaching incorporating motivational interviewing over 3-months

Usual care

Self-report: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; total METs/week), 7 day PAR (kcal/day)

6 months

No

Measured: race, occupation (working status) gender, education (level), social capital (marital status, household size), age

Illife et al. (2015) [50]

12

UK

1256

≥65 year general practice registered patients, independent living and physically able to participate

Differential effects: gender, age

Intervention 1: Falls exercise management programme incorporating group sessions working on strength, balance and postural stability

Usual care

Self-report: CHAMPS questionnaire (meeting >150 min of MVPA per week), Phone-FITT and PASE

12 months

Yes

Measured: place of residence (London or Nottingham), race (English first language), gender, education (completing further education), social capital (social network, social support), age, disability (self-rated health and physical function tests)

Intervention 2: Otago exercise programme incorporating home-based weight exercises

Jakicic et al. (2009) [51]

13

US

4376

45–74 year old, overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 Kg/m2) primary care registered patients with type 2 diabetes Mellitus

Differential effects: race, gender, age

Intensive lifestyle intervention aiming to achieve weight loss and incorporating weekly group education sessions over 6 months and individual support thereafter up to 1 year

Diabetes support condition, incorporating 3 general group educational sessions covering topics of exercise and diet

Self-report: Harvard Alumni Study Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire

12 months

Yes

Measured: race, gender, age

Objective: cardio-respiratory fitness by graded treadmill exercise test

Koelwijn van Loon et al. (2010) [52]

14

Netherlands

615

General practice adult patients eligible for cardiovascular risk management

Differential effects: gender, socio-economic status, age

Cardiovascular disease risk management with risk communication and nurse led motivational interviewing

Standard cardiovascular disease risk management with risk communication

Self-report: meeting national physical activity recommendations

12 months

No

Measured: gender, socio-economic status, age

Lakerveld et al. (2013) [53]

15

Netherlands

662

30 to 50 year general practice patients at risk of diabetes or cardiovascular diseases

Differential effects: gender, education (level), age

Healthy lifestyle counselling from practice nurses plus 3 monthly follow-up sessions

Brochure containing healthy lifestyle information

Self-report: AQuAA questionnaire (sedentary behaviour)

12 months

No

Measured: gender, education (level), age

Murphy et al. (2012) [54]

16

UK

2160

>16 year practice registered patients eligible for Exercise Referral Scheme

Differential effects: gender, socio-economic status (index of multiple deprivation), age

National exercise referral scheme delivered in leisure centres by exercise professionals

Usual care plus leaflet highlighting benefits of exercise

Self-report:7 day PAR (duration of exercise)

12 months

Yes

Measured: race, occupation (employment status), gender, education (level), social capital (marital status), socio-economic status, age

Norris et al. (2000) [55]

17

US

812

>30 year primary care patients registered to attend a well visit, able to increase activity, English speaking, stable health

Differential effects: gender, age

Physician counselling based on PACE protocol and written exercise prescription. Follow-up phone calls in a subset of participants

Usual care

Self-report: PASE questionnaire (physical activity score) and Paffenbarger’s physical activity index

6 months

Yes

Measured: race, gender, education (level), social capital (marital status), age, disability (health status)

Petrella et al. (2003) [56]

18

Canada

284

>65 year community dwelling primary care patients, not participating in formal exercise training, able to increase activity, independent living, stable health

Differential effects: gender, age

Physician administered step test plus counselling and recommendations

Usual care

Objective: V02 Max

12 months

Yes

measured: gender, education (years complete), social capital (marital status), socio-economic status (income), age

Petrella et al. (2010) [57]

19

Canada

360

55–85 year community dwelling primary care patients, inactive, English speaking, able to increase activity, stable health

Differential effects: place of residence (urban vs. rural), gender, age

Individualised exercise prescription based on step test results, physician counselling and exercise prescription tailored to stage of change.

individualised exercise prescription based on step test results

Self-report:7 day PAR (energy expenditure)

12 months

No

Objective V02 Max

Measured: place of residence, occupation (employment status), gender, education (level), social capital (living status, marital status), age

Purath et al. (2013) [58]

20

US

72

60–85 years, inactive, community dwelling primary care patients, stable health

Differential effects: gender, social capital (marital status, friend and family support to exercise), socio-economic status (income), age

Fitness test and feedback with goal setting (PACE protocol) plus 10-week telephone follow-up.

Nutrition intervention using a similar format PACE protocol

Self-report: CHAMPS questionnaire (physical activity frequency and energy expenditure)

6 months

No

Objective: Senior fitness test (body strength, aerobic endurance and balance)

Measured: race, gender, education (years complete), social capital, socio-economic status, age

van Sluijs et al. (2005) [59]

21

Netherlands

396

18–70 year primary care patients with hypertension, hyper cholesterolaemia or non-insulin dependent diabetes, inactive, able to increase activity

Differential effects: gender, age

Health care provider consultation discussing physical activity plus two PACE physical activity counsellor visits and telephone follow up

Usual care plus brief physical activity promotion

Self-report: SQUASH questionnaire (duration of physical activity and meeting recommendations)

12 months

No

Measured: occupation (employment status), gender, education (level), age

Steptoe et al. (2001) [60]

22

UK

883

General practice registered adult patients with high risk of cardiovascular disease, stable health

Differential effects: gender, age, education (attainment)

Nurse behavioural counselling to increase physical activity

Usual care

Self-report: Stages of Change for physical activity questionnaire

12 months

Yes

Measured: race, occupation (employment status), gender, education (attainment), social capital (marital status, social support), age

Stewart et al. (2001) [61]

23

US

173

65–90 year inactive Medicare health maintenance organisation enrolees, stable health, able to increase activity, English speaking

Differential effects: gender, age

Individually tailored programme encouraging participation in community classes plus optional group workshops

Waiting list

Self-report: CHAMPS questionnaire (energy expenditure)

12 months

Yes

Measured: race, occupation (working status), gender, education (level), social capital (marital status), socio-economic status (income), age, disability (self-rated health)

van Steenkiste et al. (2007) [62]

24

Netherlands

490

40–75 year general practice registered patients at risk of cardiovascular disease

Differential effects: gender

Physician consultations using a decision support tool encouraging lifestyle change.

Physician consultation with standard written cholesterol guidelines

Self-report: duration of physical activity (>2 h/week)

6 months

Yes

Measured: gender, socio-economic status (level), age