The National ReferAll Database: An Open Dataset of Exercise Referral Schemes Across the UK

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Exercise Science

Background:

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended a system for collating local data on exercise referral schemes (ERS) in 2014.
• Public health bodies have not yet met this recommendation, hindering the evaluation of ERS effectiveness.
• Health databases are crucial for scientific investigation and evidence generation in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the formation and open sharing of The National ReferAll Database.
• To detail the data-cleaning processes and database structure, including outcome measures.
• To provide a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to understand ERS and social prescribing.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between ukactive, ReferAll, and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine.
• Data collation from multiple UK-based ERS.
• Data cleaning and structuring, including outcome measures over time.

Main Results:

• Creation of one of the largest databases of its kind, comprising data from 123 ERS and 39,283 individuals.
• The database includes scheme and referral level characteristics, alongside outcome measures.
• The National ReferAll Database is now openly available for research interrogation.

Conclusions:

• The National ReferAll Database addresses NICE's recommendation for collating ERS data.
• This database serves as a significant resource to advance understanding of ERS and physical-activity-related social prescribing.
• Findings will inform public health policy and practice, promoting evidence-based interventions.