Effectiveness of exercise-referral schemes to promote physical activity in adults: systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the health benefits of physical activity, most adults do not take the recommended amount of exercise.

Aim

To assess whether exercise-referral schemes are effective in improving exercise participation in sedentary adults.

Design of study

Systematic review.

Method

Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, AMED, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, The Cochrane Library and SIGLE until March 2007. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, process evaluations and qualitative studies of exercise-referral schemes, defined as referral by a primary care clinician to a programme that encouraged physical activity or exercise were included. RCT results were combined in a meta-analysis where there was sufficient homogeneity.

Res

SUBMITTER: Williams NH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2084138 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature