Participation in group-based physical activity programmes for adults in Germany and associated factors: data from a nationwide cohort study

Physical activity counselling by physicians - Results from the KomPaS study

Physical activity counselling aimed at promoting physical and sporting activity is easily accessible and has the potential to reach many people. Until now, very little has been known about the factors influencing physical activity counselling and their frequency. However, the study 'KomPaS: survey on communication and patient-safety', provides current data about this topic. The analyses published here are based on data from 4,561 people aged 18 or older who were interviewed by telephone between May and September 2017 and who stated that they had visited a physician's practice or outpatient clinic in the last twelve months. 28.6% of participants reported having received a physician's counselling about sporting activity during the past twelve months. Sex, age and socioeconomic status have an impact on how frequently participants reported a physical activity counselling by a physician as well as changes to physical activity. As such, differences associated with sex, age and socioeconomic status should be taken into account during physical activity counselling so as to provide various population groups with targeted support.

The effect of a community-based e-health program to promote the role of physical activity among healthy adults in Hungary

Background

Physically active lifestyle can prolong the years spent without chronic diseases and is strongly associated with good mental and physical health. The goal of the study was to examine the physical activity patterns of the healthy adults and the effectiveness of a community-based e-health program.

Methods

The study sample comprised of 633 participants. Analyses were based on the E-Harmony health program that was conducted in Hungary in 2014–2015. The longitudinal study measured the physical activity patterns of the healthy adult population, and a 12-month community-based internet and media program was evaluated for the target group to improve the physical activity level and related knowledge. We examined the effectiveness of the program by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Hungarian validated long version adjusting for socio-demographic parameters, also across multivariate linear regression analysis using SPSS 24.0 software. Confidence interval of 95% was used and the level of significance was p < 0.05.

Results

The total physical activity of the study sample was 5129.9 (SD = 4488.1) MET min/week. Male participants scored higher in total activity but the results showed no statistical significance. Our participants were sitting 2211.6 (SD = 1592.8) min /week on average (daily average was 315.9 (SD = 227.6) minutes); the results showed no statistically significant difference by gender. We found weak but significant relationship between the active lifestyle and anthropometric data, especially according to leisure time activities and sedentary behaviour (p < 0.001). Based on the multivariate linear regression models the socio-demographic parameters significantly affected the physical activity level of participants. After the 12-month community-based e-health program, 10.34% changes occurred in the total physical activity level (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

To our knowledge, ours was the first community-based e-health program in Hungary to improve the physical activity level of the healthy adult population. Based on our results this web-based e-health program can be an adequate tool to promote healthy lifestyle. The study could provide appropriate information for the further health interventions and policy making. Further research is necessary to determine the special risk groups and to develop an applicable e-health program for such specific subgroups.