Title: A randomised controlled trial evaluation of the effectiveness of three minimal human contact interventions to promote fitness and physical activity among NHS hospital employees (Get Moving)
Funder: Department of Health (England)

Abstract: Background The rise in the burden of disease associated with sedentary living is a major public health problem. Physical inactivity accounts for up to 11.7% of deaths in developed countries and is associated with heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. The rapid rise in the prevalence of obesity is strongly associated with a decline in physical activity. Obesity costs the NHS in England approximately £0.5 billion per year. While previous physical activity interventions have focused on individuals at increased risk of disease, greater population health gain will be achieved through shifts in the overall distribution of physical activity. We need interventions that are effective, scalable and affordable; those involving little face-to-face contact may be one way of achieving this. Aims The purpose of this trial is to assess the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of three minimal human contact interventions to increase fitness and physical activity among NHS hospital employees: 1. Self-monitoring using paper diaries 2. Physical activity monitor with web-based feedback graphs 3. Physical activity monitor with web-based feedback graphs and support programme There will also be a no intervention control group. The interventions will be applied for twelve weeks, with objective measurement of fitness and physical activity at baseline and follow-up. Although being evaluated among hospital employees, the interventions are potentially applicable to similar target groups in other settings, including general practice and primary care. Plan of Investigation This is an open label, parallel groups, randomised controlled trial to assess three interventions designed to increase fitness and physical activity against a no treatment control group. Participants (NHS hospital employees) will attend baseline and follow-up (12 weeks) measurement sessions. At both sessions, participants will complete questionnaires and have anthropometric and biological measurements taken. The baseline measurement session will be followed by 6 days of objective physical activity monitoring. Following this, participants will be randomly allocated to one of the four experimental groups. Follow-up measurements (preceded by 6 days of objective physical activity monitoring) will be taken to ascertain whether there has been a change in any of the dependent measures. Potential Impact Participants (480 NHS hospital employees) may benefit directly in two ways. All participants (including those in the control group) will be offered a health check and will be sent a summary of their personal results at the end of the study. In addition, participants in the intervention groups may increase their fitness and physical activity. If the interventions are effective in increasing fitness and physical activity, they could be used relatively inexpensively on a wide scale, in other occupational health settings and in general practice and primary care. Increased physical activity is known to be associated with greater job satisfaction and lower sick leave, a positive result which will be of direct benefit to NHS patients.


Research activity codes: 3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: STROKE;CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE;CARDIOVASCULAR;ORAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL