Interventions for physical activity promotion applied to the primary healthcare settings for people living in regions of low socioeconomic level: study protocol for a non-randomized controlled trial
Categorie(s):
Health
Author(s):
Emanuel P Salvador(1)*, Evelyn H Ribeiro(3), Leandro MT Garcia(3), Douglas R Andrade(2), Vanessa MV Guimaraes(2), Marcelo S Aoki(2) and Alex A Florindo(2)
Keyword(s):
Health promotion, Intervention study, Public health practice, Physical activity
DOI:
Abstract :
Background: Regular physical activity practice has been widely recommended for promoting health, but the physical
activity levels remain low in the population. Therefore, the study of interventions to promote physical activity is essential.
Objective: To present the methodology of two physical activity interventions from the “Ambiente Ativo” (“Active
Environment”) project.
Methods: 12-month non-randomized controlled intervention trial. 157 healthy and physically inactive individuals were
selected: health education (n = 54) supervised exercise (n = 54) and control (n = 49). Intervention based on health
education: a multidisciplinary team of health professionals organized the intervention in group discussions, phone calls,
SMS and educational material. Intervention based on supervised exercise program: consisted of offering an exercise
program in groups supervised by physical education professionals involving strength, endurance and flexibility exercises.
The physical activity level was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long version), physical activities
recalls, pedometers and accelerometers over a seven-day period.
Result: This study described two different proposals for promoting physical activity that were applied to adults attended
through the public healthcare settings. The participants were living in a region of low socioeconomic level, while
respecting the characteristics and organization of the system and its professionals, and also adapting the interventions to
the realities of the individuals attended.
Conclusion: Both interventions are applicable in regions of low socioeconomic level, while respecting the social and
economic characteristics of each region.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01852981