Table 4.
Outcomes where quantitative only or qualitative only findings exist, no mixed-methods synthesis
| Qualitative findings | ||
| Theme | Subtheme | Level of confidence in evidence for intervention type |
| Belief that the benefits of physical activity interventions carry into wider life of people experiencing homelessness | Development of life and interpersonal skills | High (Group running,38 Group outdoor adventure46) Moderate (Soccer-tournament participation,33 Earn-a-bike,48 Group outdoor adventure35) Low (Soccer-group training and tournament participation,45 soccer-group training,43 Gardening group47) Very low (Group instructor-led dance31) |
| Improved social connection and building relationships with others | High (Group running,38 Group outdoor adventure46) Moderate (Soccer-tournament participation,33 Earn-a-bike,48 Group outdoor adventure35) Low (Soccer-group training and tournament participation,45 soccer-group training,43 Gardening group47) |
|
| Physical activity as a catalyst for positive healthy life change | High (Group outdoor adventure46) Moderate (Soccer-tournament participation33) Low (Soccer-group training and tournament participation,45 Gardening group47) |
|
| Practical and functional benefits developed from participation | Moderate (Earn-a-bike48) Low (Soccer-group training and tournament participation,45 soccer-group training43) |
|
| Perception of challenges related to physical activity participation while homeless | Homelessness presents specific barriers to PA participation | High (Group running38) Moderate (Earn-a-bike48) Low (Soccer-group training and tournament participation,45 soccer-group training43) Very low (Group instructor-led dance31) |
| Participating in soccer tournaments can be stressful | High (Soccer-group training and tournament participation44) Moderate (Soccer-tournament participation33) |
|
| Perceived poor performance/aptitude can negatively impact confidence and coping | High (Soccer-group training and tournament participation44) Moderate (Soccer-tournament participation33) Very low (Group instructor-led dance31) |
|
| Belief of physical activity positive impact on self-medication, prescribed medication and addiction for people experiencing homelessness | Reduction in need for prescription medication and self-medication | Moderate (Earn-a-bike48) |
| Reduced substance misuse | High (Soccer-group training and tournament participation44) Moderate (Earn-a-bike48) Low (soccer-group training43) |
|
| Diversion from temptation of addiction | Low (soccer-group training43) | |
| Quantitative findings | ||
| Description of outcome and measurement tool | Outcome data | Level of confidence in evidence for intervention type |
| Positive bone health, measured from a blood sample and X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in context of physical activity participation in people experiencing homelessness | Osteocalcin increased by 27% from pre to post intervention. This change was significantly different between the control and intervention groups (p=0.042) | High (Soccer-group training41) |
| Pre-post trunk bone mineral density increased by 1% (p=0.02) in the intervention group. There was no difference between intervention and control groups. | High (Soccer-group training41) | |
| No change to bone health, measured by X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), from participation in physical activity among people experiencing homelessness | Pre-post weight-bearing z-score increased from 0.6±1.1 to 0.7±1.1 (p=0.07) in the intervention group. There was no difference between intervention and control groups. | High (Soccer-group training41) |
| No pre-post changes in TRACP5b (bone resorption), plasma leptin or bone mineral density in intervention group (p>0.05) | High (Soccer-group training41) | |
| Positive changes to blood markers after participation in physical activity among people experiencing homelessness | LDL-cholesterol was lowered by 0.4 mmol/L (95% CI: −0.7 to −0.2; 3.2±1.1 to 2.8±0.8 mmol/L) in intervention group after 12 weeks, this change was significantly different to the control group (p=0.05) | High (Soccer-group training39) |
| HDL:LDL ratio increased by 0.06 (CI: 0.02 to 0.11) after 12 weeks in the intervention group (0.43±0.13 to 0.48±0.19), which was different to the control group (p=0.05) | High (Soccer-group training39) | |
HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; PA, physical activity.