Making a move in exercise referral: co-development of a physical activity referral scheme

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Translational Research

Background:

• Translational research is crucial for developing evidence-based exercise referral schemes (ERSs) that meet local needs.
• This study reports on the co-development phase of an ERS, examining factors influencing the translation of evidence into practice.
• It also explores facilitators and challenges in conducting participatory research with diverse stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify critical factors for translating evidence into practice within exercise referral schemes.
• To understand the facilitators and challenges of participatory research in co-developing an ERS.
• To inform the design and implementation of effective, evidence-based ERSs.

Main Methods:

• An exercise referral scheme (ERS) was iteratively co-developed using a multidisciplinary stakeholder group.
• Participatory methods included five meetings and an online survey.
• Qualitative data from discussions and notes were analyzed using NVivo-10 software.

Main Results:

• Key factors for ERS implementation include existing ERS culture, practitioner skills, safety, accountability, resources, and capacity.
• Facilitators of the co-development process included needs analysis, open inquiry, multidisciplinary discussion, and reflective practice.
• Challenges encountered were differing stakeholder views, inconsistent attendance, and varied perceptions of evaluation.

Conclusions:

• The co-development process revealed cultural and practical considerations for exercise referral provision.
• An evidence-based intervention framework was created, designed for integration into existing infrastructures.
• Further research is needed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the co-developed intervention in real-world settings.