Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 1999 Sep 25;319(7213):828-32.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.319.7213.828.

The Newcastle exercise project: a randomised controlled trial of methods to promote physical activity in primary care

J Harland  1 , M White, C Drinkwater, D Chinn, L Farr, D Howel
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

The Newcastle exercise project: a randomised controlled trial of methods to promote physical activity in primary care

J Harland et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of combinations of three methods to promote physical activity.

Design: Randomised controlled trial. Baseline assessment with post-intervention follow up at 12 weeks and 1 year.

Setting: One urban general practice, 1995-7.

Participants: 523 adults aged 40 to 64 years, randomised to four intervention groups and a control group.

Interventions: Brief (one interview) or intensive (six interviews over 12 weeks) motivational interviewing based on the stages of change model of behaviour change, with or without financial incentive (30 vouchers entitling free access to leisure facilities).

Main outcome measures: Physical activity score; sessions of moderate and vigorous activity in the preceding four weeks.

Results: Response rate was 81% at 12 weeks and 85% at one year. More participants in the intervention group reported increased physical activity scores at 12 weeks than controls (38% v 16%, difference 22%, 95% confidence interval for difference 13% to 32%), with a 55% increase observed in those offered six interviews plus vouchers. Vigorous activity increased in 29% of intervention participants and 11% of controls (difference 18%, 10% to 26%), but differences between the intervention groups were not significant. Short term increases in activity were not sustained, regardless of intensity of intervention.

Conclusions: The most effective intervention for promoting adoption of exercise was the most intensive. Even this did not promote long term adherence to exercise. Brief interventions promoting physical activity that are used by many schemes in the United Kingdom are of questionable effectiveness.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure
Figure
Flow of participants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Fentem PH. Benefits of exercise in health and disease. BMJ. 1994;308:1291–1295. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Byrne A, Byrne DG. The effect of exercise on depression, anxiety and other mood states: a review. J Psychosom Res. 1993;37:565–574. - PubMed
    1. Sports Council; Health Education Council. Allied Dunbar national fitness survey: main findings. Northampton: Sports Council, Health Education Authority; 1992.
    1. Fox K, Biddle S, Edmunds L, Bowler I, Killoran A. Physical activity promotion through primary health care in England. Br J Gen Pract. 1997;47:367–369. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Taylor A. Evaluating GP exercise referral schemes: findings from a randomised controlled study. Brighton: Chelsea School Research Centre, University of Brighton; 1996. (CSRC topic report 6.)

Publication types