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Who participates in physical activity intervention trials?
Lauren Ashleigh Waters1, Benedicte Galichet, Neville Owen
1Cancer Prevention Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Journal of Physical Activity & Health
|February 8, 2011
Summary
Physical activity interventions often recruit Caucasian women, missing key demographics. Improving reporting on intervention settings can enhance recruitment of diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Analysis of physical activity intervention trials published between 1996 and 2006.
- Empirical evaluation of participant characteristics, response, and retention rates.
- Association of these factors with various intervention settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess participant demographics in physical activity trials.
- To determine response and retention rates across different intervention settings.
- To identify factors influencing recruitment and retention in physical activity interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 32 research reports from 5 health behavior journals.
- Categorization of intervention settings: workplace, healthcare, home-based, community-based.
- Extraction and analysis of participant and intervention characteristics.
Main Results:
- Majority of participants were Caucasian (86%), women (66%), healthy but sedentary (63%), middle-aged (mean=51).
- Response rates varied (20%-89%), highest in healthcare and home-based settings.
- Participants generally more diverse than non-participants; workplace interventions recruited younger, healthier individuals; community-based recruited older, more diverse groups.
Conclusions:
- Need to target men, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and ethnic minorities in physical activity interventions.
- Consistent reporting of response and retention rates is crucial.
- Understanding which settings best recruit and retain diverse samples is essential for public health impact.
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