Table 2.
Individual study characteristics of the 12 studies included in the review
| Author | Reference number | Design | Duration, n | Intervention | PA measures | Effectiveness | Study quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process measures | |||||||
| Bastiaens et al. 2009 Belgium |
21 | Longitudinal pilot Goal: PA, diet and self-management Setting: Primary care |
3 months Follow-up: 18 months n = 44 |
Five 2-h fortnightly group sessions. Additional 3-month follow-up meeting to reinforce maintenance issues. Intervention delivered by various HPs. Contact time = 12 h |
IPAQ | Not reported due to low follow-up numbers | Reliability - Low Usefulness - Medium |
| Attendance Data collection Staff support Patient insight | |||||||
| Clark et al. 2004 UK |
22 | RCT Goal: PA and diet Setting: Clinic |
3 months Follow-up: 12 months n = 100 |
Four 30-min individual consultations and three 10-min follow-up phonecalls over 12 months. The control group received usual care. Intervention delivered by research staff. Contact time = 2.5 h |
PASE DSCAQ |
Significantly greater PA levels in intervention group measured by DSCAQ at both 3 and 12 months (p < 0.001). No significant change in PA levels measured by PASE (p = 0.087) | Reliability - Medium Usefulness - Medium |
| Patient insight | |||||||
| Eakin et al. 2008 Australia |
23 | RCT Goal: PA and diet Setting: Primary care via telephone |
12 months Follow-up: 18 months n = 434 |
Eighteen 20-min telephone calls delivered over 12 months, with decreasing frequency. Patients also provided with home resources including pedometer and resistance band. Control group received usual care. Intervention delivered by staff with health related degree. Contact time = 6 h |
CHAMPS Active Australia Survey |
Final results not available until 2013 | Reliability - High Usefulness - High |
| Call tracking Content fidelity Cost-effectiveness | |||||||
| Keyserling et al. 2002 USA |
24 | Three-armed RCT Goal: PA, diet and self-management Setting: Primary care/Clinic/Community |
6 months Follow-up: 12 months n = 200 Females only |
Group A received four individual counselling sessions by the nutritionist, two group education and multiple personal phone call consultations by the peer counsellors. Group B received four individual counselling sessions, and Group C received usual care. Intervention delivered by peers and nutritionist. Contact time = (A) 9 h, (B) 3 h | Caltrac activity monitor | Significantly greater increase in Group B than C at 6 months (p = 0.036), however, significantly greater increase in Group A than C at 12 months (p = 0.019). Significant overall group effect (p = 0.014) | Reliability - High Usefulness - Medium |
| Attendance Session duration Number of calls Follow-up participation | |||||||
| King et al. 2006 USA |
25 | RCT Goal: PA, diet and self-management Setting: Primary care |
2 months Follow-up: 2 months n = 400 |
Two tailored 3-h individual consultations with educator; using computer-assisted behaviour change programme. This group also received tailored phone calls in between the two visits. Control group received usual care. Intervention delivered by various HPs. Contact time = 4 h |
CHAMPS | Significantly greater increase in MVPA (p = 0.001) and resistance training (p < 0.001) compared to the control group | Reliability - High Usefulness - High |
| Computer-software usage Patient insight Protocol fidelity | |||||||
| Klug, Toobert and Fogerty 2008 USA |
26 | Longitudinal Goal: PA and diet Setting: Community |
4 months Follow-up: 8 and 12 months n = 243 |
Sixteen weekly 1.5-h group sessions including education and peer-focussed feedback on goals, barriers and resources. Protocol amended following initial pilot. Intervention delivered by peers and 'expert lecturer'. Contact time = 24 h |
SDSCA EBS |
Significant increase of PA levels (p = 0.0248) at 4 months. Follow-up data not reported due to minimal follow-up participants. | Reliability - High Usefulness - High |
| Attendance Patient insight Peer insight | |||||||
| McKay et al. 2001 USA |
27 | RCT pilot Goal: PA only Setting: Internet |
2 months Follow-up: 2 months n = 78 |
Web-based individual tailored PA programme, including access to behaviour change software, a personal coach and peer-to-peer support area. The control group only had access to diabetes information websites. Intervention delivered by occupational therapist. Contact time = approx. 2 h |
BRFSS | Significant increase in MVPA and walking in both groups (p < 0.001) | Reliability - Medium Usefulness - High |
| Participation Webpage usage Patient insight | |||||||
| Osborn 2011 USA |
28 | Process Evaluation Goal: PA, diet and self-management Setting: Clinic |
1 month Follow-up: 3 months n = 118 |
One 90-min individual culturally tailored education session. Based on formative focus groups and interviews with potential providers and service users. Intervention delivered by medical assistant/technician. Contact time = 1.5 h |
SDSCA | Insignificant trend for increasing PA levels (p = 0.23) | Reliability - High Usefulness - High |
| Feasibility Cost analysis Staff insight Patient insight | |||||||
| Plotnikoff et al. 2010 Canada |
29 | Longitudinal cohort case studies Goal: PA only Setting: Community via telephone |
3 months Follow-up: 3 months n = 8 |
Twelve weekly telephone calls of 10–15 min duration, aimed at increasing both aerobic physical activity and resistance activity. Intervention delivered by peers. Contact time = 2–3 h |
GLTEQ | No significant change in aerobic PA (p = 0.48) or resistance PA (p = 0.12) | Reliability -Medium Usefulness High |
| Feasibility Patient insight Peer insight | |||||||
| Richert et al. 2007 USA |
30 | Descriptive report of community programme. Goal: PA and self-management Setting: Community |
Flexible and ongoing since 2004 n = 1,500 patient contacts n = 35 peer educators |
A flexible relationship between peers and enrolees. Large-scale social marketing undertaken beforehand to develop the most appropriate service for the community. Recruitment via multiple community resources and established networks. Intervention delivered by peers. Contact time = not reported |
Population wide PA levels using BRFSS | Population PA levels showed increasing trend over the initial 2 years of the programme; this has continued to the present day | Reliability - Medium Usefulness - High |
| Attendance Method of peer support Staff insight Peer insight Recruitment | |||||||
| Two-Feathers et al. 2007 USA |
31 | Process Evaluation Goal: PA, diet and self-management Setting: Community |
5 months Follow-up: none n = 150 |
Five 2-h group sessions every 4 weeks, delivered in the community using culturally tailored information. Developed after focus group research with potential service users. Intervention delivered by peers. Contact time = 10 h |
None | Not reported | Reliability -High Usefulness -High |
| Attendance Retention Patient insight Peer insight Staff insight | |||||||
| Unsworth and Slee 2002 Australia |
32 | Process Evaluation Goal: PA, diet and self-management Setting: Community |
1.5 months Follow-up: 1.5 months n = 45 |
Six weekly 180-min group education sessions which the participant could attend alone or with their partner. Intervention delivered by various HPs. Contact time = 18 h |
Evaluation questionnaire | Insignificant trend of increasing PA levels | Reliability -Medium Usefulness -Medium |
| Attendance Patient insight |
IPAQ International Physical Activity Questionnaire, PASE Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, DSCAQ Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire, CHAMPS Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors, SDSCA Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire, EBS Stanford Education Research Center Exercise Behaviour Scale, BRFSS Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System, GLTEQ Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire