Three types of scientific evidence to inform physical activity policy: results from a comparative scoping review

Abstract This study is an integrative review with the aim to identify and describe the scientific evidence of the practical effect of physical activity in people with mental disorders. For the selection of articles, the databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, Cochrane and Scopus were used. The sample of this review consisted of eight articles. Their analysis resulted in the categories: obesity and metabolic syndrome, specialized nursing, sedentary and healthy lifestyles, support and social network, incentive to the practice of physical activity, and anxiety and physical activity. The benefits to physical health were partially elucidated by the sample. The implications for nursing care arise from the therapeutic efficacy of physical activity by people with mental disorders, adding individual and collective benefits that provide socialization and promotion of well-being.

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Diversity in teachers’ approaches to movement integration: A qualitative study of lower secondary school teachers’ perceptions of a state school reform involving daily physical activity

European Physical Education Review ◽

10.1177/1356336x19865567 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 429-447

Author(s):

Henrik Taarsted Jørgensen ◽

Sine Agergaard ◽

Michalis Stylianou ◽

Jens Troelsen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

School Reform ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Teachers Perceptions ◽

Physical Activity Policy ◽

Danish School ◽

Group Interviews ◽

Movement Integration

In the context of implementing a physical activity policy as part of a national school reform in Denmark, the purpose of this study was to explore lower secondary teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of the physical activity policy with a focus on movement integration. In total, 14 teachers from four different schools were selected to take part in this qualitative study, which involved semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, go-along observations and informal interviews. A thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and describe patterns of meaning within data. The findings showed substantial diversity among teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of movement integration, and consequently a lack of definitional clarity regarding movement integration and a possible misalignment between policy and practice. Teachers’ perceptions and interpretations of movement integration were influenced by other and more prioritised policies and discourses regarding academic achievement, as well as by intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional factors. The findings also suggested a lack of support and collaboration within the school and provided insights into the strengths and weaknesses associated with the autonomy afforded in the Danish school reform.

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Physical Activity Behavior from a Transdisciplinary Biopsychosocial Perspective: a Scoping Review

Sports Medicine - Open ◽

10.1186/s40798-020-00279-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jannika M. John ◽

Vanessa Haug ◽

Ansgar Thiel

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Social Factors ◽

Biopsychosocial Model ◽

Scientific Work ◽

Physical Activity Behavior ◽

Biopsychosocial Approach ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Activity Behavior ◽

Biopsychosocial Perspective

Abstract Background Physical activity behavior is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. For its analysis, transdisciplinary biopsychosocial approaches yield great potential. In health research, the biopsychosocial model has experienced a renaissance. Researchers have tried to grasp the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. With this scoping review, we aimed to examine how the ‘biopsychosocial’ has been conceptualized in scientific work related to physical activity behavior. Methods The scoping review was informed by the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science, SportDiscus, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, and PubMed. Only articles published in peer-reviewed journals that contained all three components of a biopsychosocial approach (e.g., bio/physio/genetic, psycho/mental, and socio/cultural/environmental) were included. We only included articles in our narrative synthesis that integrated physical activity behavior into a biopsychosocial model, or investigated or described physical activity behavior on the basis of such a model. Results Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria; eight articles pursued a biopsychosocial approach in the tradition of Engel, five employed a socio-ecological approach. The models in the analyzed articles referred to either correlates of physical activity behavior, or the influence of physical activity on health or aging. Only a minority of the articles, however, referred to interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors. Conclusions The included articles were quite heterogeneous in their approach to physical activity from a biopsychosocial perspective. The included articles illustrate that the adoption of a biopsychosocial perspective may assist to capture and understand the complex phenomenon of physical activity behavior and might inform future transdisciplinary physical activity research.

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Perioperative digital behaviour change interventions for reducing alcohol consumption, improving dietary intake, increasing physical activity and smoking cessation: a scoping review

Perioperative Medicine ◽

10.1186/s13741-021-00189-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katarina Åsberg ◽

Marcus Bendtsen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Text Message ◽

Feasibility Studies ◽

Small Sample ◽

Small Sample Sizes ◽

Randomised Controlled

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that unhealthy lifestyle behaviours are modifiable risk factors for postoperative complications. Digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs), for instance text messaging programs and smartphone apps, have shown promise in achieving lifestyle behaviour change in a wide range of clinical populations, and it may therefore be possible to reduce postoperative complications by supporting behaviour change perioperatively using digital interventions. This scoping review was conducted in order to identify existing research done in the area of perioperative DBCIs for reducing alcohol consumption, improving dietary intake, increasing physical activity and smoking cessation. Main text This scoping review included eleven studies covering a range of surgeries: bariatric, orthopaedic, cancer, transplantation and elective surgery. The studies were both randomised controlled trials and feasibility studies and investigated a diverse set of interventions: one game, three smartphone apps, one web-based program and five text message interventions. Feasibility studies reported user acceptability and satisfaction with the behaviour change support. Engagement data showed participation rates ranged from 40 to 90%, with more participants being actively engaged early in the intervention period. In conclusion, the only full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT), text messaging ahead of bariatric surgery did not reveal any benefits with respect to adherence to preoperative exercise advice when compared to a control group. Two of the pilot studies, one text message intervention, one game, indicated change in a positive direction with respect to alcohol and tobacco outcomes, but between group comparisons were not done due to small sample sizes. The third pilot-study, a smartphone app, found between group changes for physical activity and alcohol, but not with respect to smoking cessation outcomes. Conclusion This review found high participant satisfaction, but shows recruitment and timing-delivery issues, as well as low retention to interventions post-surgery. Small sample sizes and the use of a variety of feasibility outcome measures prevent the synthesis of results and makes generalisation difficult. Future research should focus on defining standardised outcome measures, enhancing patient engagement and improving adherence to behaviour change prior to scheduled surgery.

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Physical Activity Advice and Counselling by Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9050609 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 609

Author(s):

Uchenna Benedine Okafor ◽

Daniel Ter Goon

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Post Partum ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Original Research ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Physical Activity Advice ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Physical Activity And Exercise

Background: Despite scientific evidence on prenatal physical activity and exercise, synthesized evidence is lacking on the provision of prenatal physical activity and exercise advice and counselling by prenatal healthcare providers. The scoping review seeks to fill this gap by synthesizing available literature on the provision of prenatal physical activity and exercise advice and counselling by prenatal healthcare providers to women during antenatal visits. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) search framework for scoping reviews was applied to retrieve original research articles on the prenatal physical activity and exercise practices of healthcare providers with pregnant women, published between 2010–2020, and available in English. The search databases included Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, EMBASE, The Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), BIOMED Central, Medline and African Journal Online. Studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were retrieved for analysis. Results: Out of the 82 articles that were retrieved for review, 13 met the eligibility criteria. Seven of the articles were quantitative, four qualitative, one mixed-method and one controlled, non-randomised study, respectively. Three themes emerged as major findings. Healthcare providers affirmed their responsibility in providing prenatal physical activity advice and counselling to pregnant women; however, they seldom or rarely performed this role. Major barriers to prenatal physical activity and exercise included insufficient time, lack of knowledge and skills, inadequate or insufficient training, and lack of resources. Conclusion: This review highlights salient features constraining the uptake of prenatal physical activity and exercise advice/counselling by prenatal healthcare providers in both community and clinical settings. Prenatal physical activity advice and counselling are key components to the promotion of physical activity adherence during and post-partum pregnancy; this requires adequate knowledge of physical activity prescriptions and recommendations, which are personalised and contextual to environment. Research is needed to examine the prenatal physical activity advice and counselling from prenatal healthcare providers on issues hindering effective delivery of the aforementioned in the context of promoting prenatal physical activity in clinical or community settings.

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Fear of failure in sport, exercise, and physical activity: a scoping review

International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology ◽

10.1080/1750984x.2021.1901299 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-29

Author(s):

Simon Taylor ◽

Robert Eklund ◽

Calum Arthur

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Fear Of Failure

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Impacts of Participation in Community-Based Physical Activity Programs on Cognitive Functions of Children and Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11020195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 195

Author(s):

Mojgan Gitimoghaddam ◽

Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽

Rebecca Hung ◽

Andrea Ryce ◽

William McKellin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Cognitive Process ◽

Cognitive Outcomes ◽

Self Control ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Community Based ◽

Physical Activity Interventions ◽

Research Activities ◽

Research Questions

This review paper aimed to undertake an extensive exploration of the extent, range, and nature of research activities regarding the effect and emerging evidence in the field of physical activity interventions on cognitive development among children and youth (0–17.99 years) with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), and to help identify key gaps in research and determine precise research questions for future investigations. To carry out this scoping review, five electronic databases were searched. A total of 12,097 articles were retrieved via search efforts with an additional 93 articles identified from the identified review papers. Sixty articles were eligible for inclusion. The results of this scoping review revealed many positive key cognitive outcomes related to physical activity including, but not limited to: focus, attention, self-control, cognitive process, and alertness. No studies reported a negative association between physical activity and cognitive outcomes. Based on the findings from this scoping review, physical activity appears to have a favorable impact on the cognitive outcomes of children and youth with NDD.

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Elucidating the interaction between maternal physical activity and circulating myokines throughout gestation: A scoping review

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology ◽

10.1111/aji.13488 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alexandra D. Goudreau ◽

Catherine Everest ◽

Taniya S. Nagpal ◽

Jessica L. Puranda ◽

Jayonta Bhattacharjee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Scoping Review

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The added value of using the HEPA PAT for physical activity policy monitoring: a four-country comparison

Health Research Policy and Systems ◽

10.1186/s12961-021-00681-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Peter Gelius ◽

◽

Sven Messing ◽

Sarah Forberger ◽

Jeroen Lakerveld ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Health Sector ◽

Policy Formulation ◽

Added Value ◽

Current Status ◽

Physical Activity Monitoring ◽

Physical Activity Policy ◽

Activity Promotion ◽

Monitoring Framework ◽

The Eu

Abstract Background Public policy is increasingly recognized as an important component of physical activity promotion. This paper reports on the current status of physical activity policy development and implementation in four European countries based on the Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Audit Tool (HEPA PAT) developed by WHO. It compares the findings to previous studies and discusses the general utility of this tool and its unique features in relation to other instruments. Methods The study was conducted as part of the Policy Evaluation Network (www.jpi-pen.eu) in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Poland. Data collection built upon information obtained via the EU Physical Activity Monitoring Framework survey, additional desk research and expert opinion. Data analysis employed Howlett’s policy cycle framework to map and compare national physical activity policies in the four countries. Results In all countries under study, policy agenda-setting is influenced by prevalence data from national health monitoring systems, and the sport and/or health sector takes the lead in policy formulation. Key policy documents were located mainly in the health sector but also in sport, urban design and transport. Physical activity programmes implemented to meet policy objectives usually cover a broad range of target groups, but currently only a small selection of major policies are evaluated for effectiveness. National experts made several suggestions to other countries wishing to establish physical activity policies, e.g. regarding cross-sectoral support and coordination, comprehensive national action plans, and monitoring/surveillance. Conclusions This study provides a detailed overview of physical activity policies in the four countries. Results show that national governments are already very active in the field but that there is room for improvement in a number of areas, e.g. regarding the contribution of sectors beyond sport and health. Using the HEPA PAT simultaneously in four countries also showed that procedures and timelines have to be adapted to national contexts. Overall, the instrument can make an important contribution to understanding and informing physical activity policy, especially when used as an add-on to regular monitoring tools like the EU HEPA Monitoring Framework.

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