Abstract
Background: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and physical inactivity are concerning within the South African population. To address these concerns, the ‘Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2017’ was developed. In response to this plan, a 12-week pilot biokinetics community health programme, Sweet Hearts, was initiated. Methods: This study is a prospective pilot study evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention. Twenty- five individuals participated in the intervention. Ten participants performed a battery of physiological tests pre and post intervention and 5 participants completed an email-based survey post intervention. The setting of the study was Tramway Football Club, Southfield, Cape Town, South Africa. The Sweet Hearts intervention was designed to promote physical activity and healthy nutritional habits in those who participated. A total of 27 exercise sessions consisting of cardiovascular, resistance and flexibility training were conducted. Brief-behavioural counselling was integrated into exercise sessions. Results: The intervention group had a high attrition rate with >50% of participants not presenting for post-intervention testing. Results were evident despite a limited sample size. There were significant improvements in health outcome measures among participants who did attend all testing sessions. These improvements included: an increase in Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) score (p = 0.03), 12- minute walk distance (p = 0.01), sit-to-stand test repetitions (p = 0.001), and a decrease in waist circumference (p = 0.01). Improvements were also noted in self-reported eating restraint (p = 0.03). Five main themes were structured into post intervention surveys: 1) enjoyment of the intervention, 2) benefits of the intervention, 3) obstacles affecting adherence, 4) future improvements to the intervention, and 5) state of non-communicable diseases in South Africa. Conclusion: The results of the Sweet Hearts intervention demonstrate the difficulty and importance of maintaining adherence to a community health intervention. The favourable results of the small sample size demonstrate the potential benefit of biokinetics-based programmes in the public health sector; and provide proof of concept for the dedication of resources towards health promotion within a community setting.
Highlights
IntroductionA pilot physical activity-based community health intervention programme was implemented
The intervention was developed as a response to the call by Evans et al [6] for the inclusion of biokinetics into the South African public health system and to act upon the recommendations set out in the Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) 2013-2017
Over the duration of the 12-week intervention, the primary findings of the study were in the following physiological variables (p ≤ 0.05): an increase in the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) scores, self-reported eating restraints, 12-minute walks, sit-to-stand tests and a decrease in waist circumference
Summary
A pilot physical activity-based community health intervention programme was implemented. The intervention was developed as a response to the call by Evans et al [6] for the inclusion of biokinetics into the South African public health system and to act upon the recommendations set out in the Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2017. The primary goals of the intervention were to (a) increase the physical activity levels of participants and (b) promote improved lifestyle choices including healthy eating and stress reduction. Participants completed a post-intervention survey to capture qualitative data so as to elucidate subjective experiences throughout the intervention
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
