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Updated: Nov 2, 2025

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
The impact of signposting and group support pathways on a community-based physical activity intervention grounded in
M Wade1,2, N Brown1, J Steele2,3
1Faculty of Sport, Allied Health and Performance Sciences, St Mary's University, Twickenham, TW1 4SX, UK.
Background:
Brief advice is recommended to increase physical activity (PA) within primary care. This study assessed change in PA levels and mental well-being after a motivational interviewing (MI) community-based PA intervention and the impact of signposting (SP) and social action (SA) (i.e. weekly group support) pathways.
Methods:
Participants (n = 2084) took part in a community-based, primary care PA programme using MI techniques. Self-reported PA and mental well-being data were collected at baseline (following an initial 30-min MI appointment), 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. Participants were assigned based upon the surgery they attended to the SP or SA pathway. Multilevel models derived point estimates and 95% confidence intervals for outcomes at each time point and change scores.
Results:
Participants increased PA and mental well-being at each follow-up time point through both participant pathways and with little difference between pathways. Retention was similar between pathways at 12 weeks, but the SP pathway retained more participants at 6 and 12 months.
Conclusions:
Both pathways produced similar improvements in PA and mental well-being; however, the addition of a control would have provided further insight as to the effectiveness. Due to lower resources yet similar effects, the SP pathway could be incorporated to support PA in primary care settings.
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