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Do general practices provide equitable access to physical activity interventions?
Sarah L Sowden1, Elizabeth Breeze, Julie Barber
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London. s.sowden@ucl.ac.uk
Summary
Exercise referral schemes in England are more likely to be used by patients in deprived areas. Once referred, uptake and completion rates are similar across socioeconomic statuses, indicating equitable access.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Exercise referral schemes are widely implemented across England.
- National guidelines advocate for engaging socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on referral to, and utilization of, exercise referral schemes.
- To analyze referral patterns based on general practice and patient deprivation status.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of patient data referred to exercise schemes (2004-2006).
- Inclusion of all general practices within six Primary Care Trusts in Greater London.
- Estimation of risk ratios for referral and odds ratios for uptake and completion by deprivation quintiles.
Main Results:
- General practices in more deprived areas made more referrals (adjusted risk ratio for trend 0.84).
- No significant association found between patient deprivation status and scheme uptake (adjusted OR 1.05).
- No significant association found between patient deprivation status and scheme completion (adjusted OR 1.23).
Conclusions:
- Practices in deprived areas demonstrate higher referral rates to exercise schemes.
- Patients from deprived areas exhibit comparable uptake and completion rates once referred.
- Further research is needed to understand the factors enabling equitable access to these schemes for disadvantaged populations.
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