Phase 1
The research approach to SPARColl has been developed in two phases. In the first phase we have conducting a systematic review of interventions to promote walking and a mapping exercise of activities aimed at the promotion of walking in Scotland.
Systematic Review of Interventions to Promote Walking
Led by Dr David Ogilvie, a team of researchers systematically reviewed the best available evidence about the effects of interventions on how much people walk. The review has drawn on controlled experimental and observational studies in fields ranging from health care and exercise science to transport and environmental change. The review has now been published and is available freely on the BMJ website.
Summary for Practitioners - NEW!
The most promising studies suggest that it is possible to increase walking in motivated or targeted people, at least in the short term, by up to about 30-60 minutes per week. Given that about a third of adults in Scotland report fewer than one 30-minute episode of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, this suggests that interventions to promote walking could make a substantial contribution towards increasing the activity levels of sedentary people.
The most convincing evidence favours interventions which are targeted at particular groups of people and whose content is tailored to those people's needs. Successful interventions have usually been targeted at one of three types of people:
- People with a particular clinical diagnosis, such as heart disease
- People who have been identified as motivated to change their behaviour
- People who are particularly sedentary
Tailoring the content to the needs of the individuals, households or groups receiving them is also likely to be important. Examples of how this has been done in successful interventions include:
- Identifying people's positions in the 'stages of change' (transtheoretical) model and giving them written materials specific to their stage
- Helping them to map their personal journey to school
- Offering households a menu of information and incentives to encourage them to try using environmentally-friendly modes of transport
Different people may respond to different approaches which suit their psychological characteristics or life circumstances. In other words, one size may not fit all and a variety of approaches should be offered: some people may respond best to individual advice from their doctor, others may prefer the private feedback from a pedometer, others may respond to interventions delivered through the internet, others may prefer or need the social support of a walking group, and others may increase their walking in response to prompts about reducing their car use on environmental grounds.
Mapping of Current Walking Related Activities
To gain an insight into what activities were taking in Scotland to promote walking, SPARColl mapped activiites aimed at the promotion of walking. Organisations/projects we contacted were Paths to Health, the Scottish Ramblers Association, Healthy Working Lives, School Travel Co-ordinators and Active Schools Co-ordinators.
The mapping exercise gave an overview of activities in Scotland aimed at promoting walking. The final report is available in the 'Reports' section of this website.