The Role of Intermediaries in Connecting Individuals to Local Physical Activity - Study Protocol

NCT06260995 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Ref: 230603
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Intermediaries help people to connect to community-based services and supports, including physical activity and exercise groups (physical activities). They do this by acting as a link person. After receiving a referral or self-referral, they conduct an assessment, connect people to services in the community, and follow-up with people over time. This project will investigate if connecting to physical activities through an intermediary can improve health and wellbeing. It will also investigate people's experiences of working with an intermediary. This project is a pilot feasibility study, which means the investigators are evaluating the measures used and the way the trial is designed to see if they are suitable for a larger study in the future.

Conditions

Physical Inactivity

Keywords

Exercise; Physical Activity; Health Promotion; Referral and Consultation; Social Prescribing; Link Workers; Intermediaries

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form

  The IPAQ-SF assesses physical activity behaviour over the last seven days and includes measures of frequency and duration of vigorous physical activity, moderate physical activity, walking and sedentary behaviour. Using a standardised scoring protocol, total days of activity, total activity (minutes/week), metabolic equivalent minutes per week and physical activity category (low, moderate or high levels of physical activity) can be calculated.

  At baseline (T0) and at the 12-week follow-up assessment (T1)

• Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale

  A self-report measure of self-efficacy for physical activity, participants are asked to rate their current confidence in their ability to exercise three times per week for 20 minutes under different scenarios. Responses are rated on a numerical rating scale of 0-10, with 0 indicating 'not confident' and 10 indicating 'very confident'. The overall score is calculated by summing the responses to each scenario, and a higher score indicates higher self-efficacy for exercise.

  At baseline (T0) and at the 12-week follow-up assessment (T1)

• Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale

  A scale whose items cover different aspects of eudemonic and hedonic well-being. Each item is answered on a 1 to 5 Likert scale, ranging from "none of the time" to "all the time". The overall score is calculated by summing the scores for each item, and a higher score indicates a higher level of well-being.

  At baseline (T0) and at the 12-week follow-up assessment (T1)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Demographics and Health Status

  At baseline assessment (T0). Self-reported rating of health and types of exercise will also be recorded at the 12 week follow-up assessment (T1)

• Semi-structured Interviews - Intervention Participants

  At the 12-week follow-up assessment (T1)

• Overall Acceptability of the Intervention

  At the 12-week follow-up assessment (T1)

• Gatekeeper Recruitment Logs

  Ongoing throughout the recruitment period

• Semi-structured Interviews - Gatekeepers

  At the end of the recruitment period, when recruitment logs have been returned

Study Arms (2)

Social Prescribing

Participants are those who are referred or self-referred to a social prescribing link worker for any reason and who undergo an intervention delivered by an intermediary i.e., undergo assessment, follow-up, and onward connection to local physical activities.

Other: Social Prescribing Link Worker Intermediary Intervention

Local Sports Partnership

Participants are those who are referred or self-referred to a local sports partnership community development officer for any reason and who undergo an intervention delivered by an intermediary i.e., undergo assessment, follow-up, and onward connection to local physical activities.

Other: Local Sports Partnership Community Development Officer Intervention

Interventions

Social Prescribing Link Worker Intermediary Intervention OTHER

Social prescribing link workers \[SPLW\] receive referrals from healthcare professionals, community services, or through self-referral. Individuals are referred for social isolation or social needs, frequent healthcare attendance, or to address a pre-existing health issue. SPLW carry out an in-depth assessment of the individual's needs, and then work with the individual over weeks and months to connect them to community services and supports, which can include local physical activities. They use several strategies during this follow-up period, such as instrumental support (doing things for the individual), empowerment and motivation techniques and/or attending activities with the individual. After the SPLW establishes a connection to a local physical activity, the individual enrols and participates in the chosen activity. Local physical activities can include walking groups, local gyms and leisure centres, chair-based exercise, outdoor activities, yoga and tai chi.

Social Prescribing

Local Sports Partnership Community Development Officer Intervention OTHER

Local sports partnership community development officers \[LSPO\] mainly receive self-referrals, or can receive referrals, to improve physical activity levels of individuals through participation in physical activity groups delivered by the partnership. LSPO do not carry out an in-depth assessment but may carry out screening before explaining/signposting to local physical activities. They use several strategies to connect the individual to local physical activities, such as attending the first session of the group, providing reassurance and practical support, and keeping the person updated and informed as to upcoming groups. After the LSPO establishes a connection to a local physical activity, the individual enrols and participated in the chosen activity. The LSPO continues to support this engagement during the follow-up period. Local physical activities can include walking groups, local gyms and leisure centres, chair-based exercise, outdoor activities, yoga and tai chi amongst others.

Local Sports Partnership

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants are adults aged \>18 years old, able to give explicit informed consent, referred to an intermediary and that the intermediary plans to connect to local physical activities.

You may qualify if:

• Aged ≥18 years
• Referred to intermediary service for any reason OR self-referred to intermediary service for any reason
• Meets the eligibility criteria of the intermediary service
• Intermediary facilitates a connection to local physical activity

You may not qualify if:

• Non-community dwelling e.g., hospital in-patients, living in residential care facilities
• Diagnosis of dementia
• Inappropriate for health or social reasons (such as terminal illness, family or other social crisis)
• Refused to engage with the intermediary service
• Unable to give explicit informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Dublin, Trinity College: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin

Dublin, D08 W9RT, Ireland

Location

Related Publications (1)

• O'Grady M, Connolly D, Barrett E. The role of intermediaries in connecting individuals to local physical activity - protocol for a pilot feasibility trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2024 Jul 9;41:101332. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101332. eCollection 2024 Oct.

  PMID: 39129821 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Megan O'Grady

  University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Emer Barrett, PhD

  University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Deirdre Connolly, PhD

  University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2024
• First Posted: February 15, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 6, 2024
• Study Completion: August 23, 2024
• Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IE (1)