10 results on '"Hunter, Ruth F."'
Search Results
2. Effectiveness variation in simulated school-based network interventions
- Author
-
Badham, Jennifer, Kee, Frank, and Hunter, Ruth F.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a loyalty scheme for physical activity behaviour change maintenance: results from a cluster randomised controlled trial
- Author
-
Hunter, Ruth F., Murray, Jennifer M., Gough, Aisling, Tang, Jianjun, Patterson, Christopher C., French, David P., McIntosh, Emma, Xin, Yiqiao, Kee, Frank, and on behalf of the Physical Activity Loyalty (PAL) Study team
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. The Physical Activity Loyalty Card Scheme: Development and Application of a Novel System for Incentivizing Behaviour Change
- Author
-
Hunter, Ruth F., Davis, Michael, Tully, Mark A., Kee, Frank, Akan, Ozgur, Series editor, Bellavista, Paolo, Series editor, Cao, Jiannong, Series editor, Dressler, Falko, Series editor, Ferrari, Domenico, Series editor, Gerla, Mario, Series editor, Kobayashi, Hisashi, Series editor, Palazzo, Sergio, Series editor, Sahni, Sartaj, Series editor, Shen, Xuemin (Sherman), Series editor, Stan, Mircea, Series editor, Xiaohua, Jia, Series editor, Zomaya, Albert, Series editor, Coulson, Geoffrey, Series editor, Kostkova, Patty, editor, Szomszor, Martin, editor, and Fowler, David, editor
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Physical activity and behaviour change: the role of distributed motivation.
- Author
-
Gough, Aisling, Prior, Lindsay, Kee, Frank, and Hunter, Ruth F.
- Subjects
BEHAVIOR modification ,COMPUTER software ,CONSUMER attitudes ,CONVERSATION ,ECOLOGY ,FOCUS groups ,INTERPERSONAL relations ,MOTIVATION (Psychology) ,PUBLIC health ,RESEARCH funding ,TECHNOLOGY ,WEATHER ,WORK environment ,WEARABLE technology ,QUALITATIVE research ,ORGANIZATIONAL structure ,PUBLIC sector ,JUDGMENT sampling ,PHYSICAL activity - Abstract
Physical inactivity levels are rising globally. In response, public health investigators have sought to design and implement effective interventions to raise levels of physical activity in populations, communities and individuals. Usually, such interventions are built around theories of behaviour change in which notions of motivation and incentivisation loom large. Drawing on focus group evidence derived in the context of a cluster RCT aimed at increasing levels of physical activity in the workplace, this paper offers a critical look at the factors that seemingly stimulate and sustain that activity. In particular, using novel methods of data analysis we illustrate how motives and motivation – often interpreted as a driving force 'in' individuals – can be more usefully seen as distributed; as a property of systems (incorporating technologies, organisational structures, and social interaction) rather than of persons. In our discussion, we outline various theoretical as well as empirical grounds for making such claims and conclude by drawing out the implications of our work for public health policy and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Physical activity and the rejuvenation of Connswater (PARC study): protocol for a natural experiment investigating the impact of urban regeneration on public health.
- Author
-
Tully, Mark A., Hunter, Ruth F., McAneney, Helen, Cupples, Margaret E., Donnelly, Michael, Ellis, Geraint, Hutchinson, George, Prior, Lindsay, Stevenson, Michael, and Kee, Frank
- Subjects
- *
PHYSICAL activity , *PUBLIC health , *URBAN health , *CROSS-sectional method , *COST effectiveness - Abstract
Background: There is a dearth of evidence regarding the impact of urban regeneration projects on public health, particularly the nature and degree to which urban regeneration impacts upon health-related behaviour change. Natural experiment methodology enables comprehensive large-scale evaluations of such interventions. The Connswater Community Greenway in Belfast is a major urban regeneration project involving the development of a 9 km linear park, including the provision of new cycle paths and walkways. In addition to the environmental improvements, this complex intervention involves a number of programmes to promote physical activity in the regenerated area. The project affords a unique opportunity to investigate the public health impact of urban regeneration. Methods/Design: The evaluation framework was informed by the socio-ecological model and guided by the RE-AIM Framework. Key components include: (1) a quasi-experimental before-and-after survey of the Greenway population (repeated cross-sectional design), in tandem with data from a parallel Northern Ireland-wide survey for comparison; (2) an assessment of changes in the local built environment and of walkability using geographic information systems; (3) semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of survey respondents, and a range of community stakeholders, before and after the regeneration project; and (4) a cost-effectiveness analysis. The primary outcome is change in proportion of individuals identified as being regularly physically active, according to the current UK recommendations. The RE-AIM Framework will be used to make an overall assessment of the impact of the Greenway on the physical activity behaviour of local residents. Discussion: The Connswater Community Greenway provides a significant opportunity to achieve long-term, population level behaviour change. We argue that urban regeneration may be conceptualised meaningfully as a complex intervention comprising multiple components with the potential, individually and interactively, to affect the behaviour of a diverse population. The development and implementation of our comprehensive evaluation framework reflects this complexity and illuminates an approach to the empirical, rigorous evaluation of urban regeneration. More specifically, this study will add to the much needed evidence-base about the impact of urban regeneration on public health as well as having important implications for the development of natural experiment methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. A feasibility study of ‘The StepSmart Challenge’ to promote physical activity in adolescents
- Author
-
Corepal, Rekesh, Best, Paul, O’Neill, Roisin, Kee, Frank, Badham, Jennifer, Dunne, Laura, Miller, Sarah, Connolly, Paul, Cupples, Margaret E., Van Sluijs, Esther M. F., Tully, Mark A., and Hunter, Ruth F.
- Subjects
Randomised controlled trial ,Schools ,Mixed methods ,Physical activity ,4. Education ,Research ,Behaviour change ,Intervention ,Feasibility ,Adolescents ,Gamification ,3. Good health - Abstract
Funder: Research Trainees Coordinating Centre; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000659, Background: Inactive lifestyles are becoming the norm and creative approaches to encourage adolescents to be more physically active are needed. Little is known about how gamification techniques can be used in physical activity interventions for young people. Such approaches may stimulate interest and encourage physical activity behaviour. The study investigated the feasibility of implementing and evaluating a physical activity intervention for adolescents which included gamification techniques within schools. We tested recruitment and retention strategies for schools and participants, the use of proposed outcome measures, and explored intervention acceptability. Methods: This school-based feasibility study of a randomised cluster trial recruited adolescents aged 12–14 years (n = 224) from five schools (three intervention; two control) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 22-week intervention (The StepSmart Challenge) informed by self-determination theory and incorporating gamification strategies involved a school-based pedometer competition. Outcomes, measured at baseline, and post-intervention (at 22 weeks post-baseline and 52 weeks post-baseline) included daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (measured using ActiGraph accelerometer), mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), social support for physical activity, time preference (for delayed and larger rewards or immediate and smaller rewards), pro-social behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)) and the influence of social networks. The intervention’s acceptability was explored in focus groups. Results: We invited 14 schools to participate; eight showed interest in participating. We recruited the first five who responded; all five completed the trial. Of the 236 pupils invited, 224 participated (94.9%): 84.8% (190/224) provided valid MVPA (minutes/day) at baseline and 57.2% (123/215) at 52 weeks. All other outcomes were well completed apart from the SDQ (65% at baseline). Qualitative data highlighted that participants and teachers found The StepSmart Challenge to be an acceptable intervention. Conclusions: The level of interest and high recruitment and retention rates provide support for the feasibility of this trial. The intervention, incorporating gamification strategies and the recruitment methods, using parental opt-out procedures, were acceptable to participants and teachers. Teachers also suggested that the implementation of The StepSmart Challenge could be embedded in a lifelong learning approach to health within the school curriculum. As young people’s lives become more intertwined with technology, the use of innovative gamified interventions could be one approach to engage and motivate health behavioural change in this population. Trial registration: NCT02455986 (date of registration: 28 May 2015).
8. A feasibility study of 'The StepSmart Challenge' to promote physical activity in adolescents
- Author
-
Corepal, Rekesh, Best, Paul, O'Neill, Roisin, Kee, Frank, Badham, Jennifer, Dunne, Laura, Miller, Sarah, Connolly, Paul, Cupples, Margaret E, Van Sluijs, Esther MF, Tully, Mark A, and Hunter, Ruth F
- Subjects
Randomised controlled trial ,Mixed methods ,Schools ,Physical activity ,4. Education ,education ,Behaviour change ,Feasibility ,Intervention ,Adolescents ,Gamification ,3. Good health - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inactive lifestyles are becoming the norm and creative approaches to encourage adolescents to be more physically active are needed. Little is known about how gamification techniques can be used in physical activity interventions for young people. Such approaches may stimulate interest and encourage physical activity behaviour. The study investigated the feasibility of implementing and evaluating a physical activity intervention for adolescents which included gamification techniques within schools. We tested recruitment and retention strategies for schools and participants, the use of proposed outcome measures, and explored intervention acceptability. METHODS: This school-based feasibility study of a randomised cluster trial recruited adolescents aged 12-14 years (n = 224) from five schools (three intervention; two control) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 22-week intervention (The StepSmart Challenge) informed by self-determination theory and incorporating gamification strategies involved a school-based pedometer competition. Outcomes, measured at baseline, and post-intervention (at 22 weeks post-baseline and 52 weeks post-baseline) included daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (measured using ActiGraph accelerometer), mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), social support for physical activity, time preference (for delayed and larger rewards or immediate and smaller rewards), pro-social behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)) and the influence of social networks. The intervention's acceptability was explored in focus groups. RESULTS: We invited 14 schools to participate; eight showed interest in participating. We recruited the first five who responded; all five completed the trial. Of the 236 pupils invited, 224 participated (94.9%): 84.8% (190/224) provided valid MVPA (minutes/day) at baseline and 57.2% (123/215) at 52 weeks. All other outcomes were well completed apart from the SDQ (65% at baseline). Qualitative data highlighted that participants and teachers found The StepSmart Challenge to be an acceptable intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The level of interest and high recruitment and retention rates provide support for the feasibility of this trial. The intervention, incorporating gamification strategies and the recruitment methods, using parental opt-out procedures, were acceptable to participants and teachers. Teachers also suggested that the implementation of The StepSmart Challenge could be embedded in a lifelong learning approach to health within the school curriculum. As young people's lives become more intertwined with technology, the use of innovative gamified interventions could be one approach to engage and motivate health behavioural change in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02455986 (date of registration: 28 May 2015).
9. A feasibility study of 'The StepSmart Challenge' to promote physical activity in adolescents
- Author
-
Sarah Miller, Esther M. F. van Sluijs, Ruth F. Hunter, Margaret Cupples, Rekesh Corepal, Laura Dunne, Paul Best, Jennifer Badham, Paul Connolly, Roisin O'Neill, Frank Kee, Mark A. Tully, Hunter, Ruth F [0000-0001-7315-0382], Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository, and Hunter, Ruth F. [0000-0001-7315-0382]
- Subjects
Gerontology ,Mixed methods ,Population ,education ,Psychological intervention ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Intervention ,Adolescents ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,Social support ,0302 clinical medicine ,Randomized controlled trial ,law ,Intervention (counseling) ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Randomised controlled trial ,lcsh:R5-920 ,education.field_of_study ,030505 public health ,Schools ,Physical activity ,4. Education ,Research ,Behaviour change ,Feasibility ,Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire ,Focus group ,Gamification ,3. Good health ,Pedometer ,lcsh:Medicine (General) ,0305 other medical science ,Psychology - Abstract
Background Inactive lifestyles are becoming the norm and creative approaches to encourage adolescents to be more physically active are needed. Little is known about how gamification techniques can be used in physical activity interventions for young people. Such approaches may stimulate interest and encourage physical activity behaviour. The study investigated the feasibility of implementing and evaluating a physical activity intervention for adolescents which included gamification techniques within schools. We tested recruitment and retention strategies for schools and participants, the use of proposed outcome measures, and explored intervention acceptability. Methods This school-based feasibility study of a randomised cluster trial recruited adolescents aged 12–14 years (n = 224) from five schools (three intervention; two control) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 22-week intervention (The StepSmart Challenge) informed by self-determination theory and incorporating gamification strategies involved a school-based pedometer competition. Outcomes, measured at baseline, and post-intervention (at 22 weeks post-baseline and 52 weeks post-baseline) included daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (measured using ActiGraph accelerometer), mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), social support for physical activity, time preference (for delayed and larger rewards or immediate and smaller rewards), pro-social behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)) and the influence of social networks. The intervention’s acceptability was explored in focus groups. Results We invited 14 schools to participate; eight showed interest in participating. We recruited the first five who responded; all five completed the trial. Of the 236 pupils invited, 224 participated (94.9%): 84.8% (190/224) provided valid MVPA (minutes/day) at baseline and 57.2% (123/215) at 52 weeks. All other outcomes were well completed apart from the SDQ (65% at baseline). Qualitative data highlighted that participants and teachers found The StepSmart Challenge to be an acceptable intervention. Conclusions The level of interest and high recruitment and retention rates provide support for the feasibility of this trial. The intervention, incorporating gamification strategies and the recruitment methods, using parental opt-out procedures, were acceptable to participants and teachers. Teachers also suggested that the implementation of The StepSmart Challenge could be embedded in a lifelong learning approach to health within the school curriculum. As young people’s lives become more intertwined with technology, the use of innovative gamified interventions could be one approach to engage and motivate health behavioural change in this population. Trial registration NCT02455986 (date of registration: 28 May 2015).
- Published
- 2019
10. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions in achieving behaviour change maintenance in young and middle aged adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Author
-
Murray, Jennifer M., Brennan, Sarah F., French, David P., Patterson, Christopher C., Kee, Frank, and Hunter, Ruth F.
- Subjects
- *
BEHAVIOR modification , *CINAHL database , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *HEALTH behavior , *HEALTH promotion , *MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems , *PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems , *META-analysis , *PROBABILITY theory , *SYSTEMATIC reviews , *PHYSICAL activity - Abstract
Background Physical activity (PA) interventions are generally effective in supporting short-term behaviour change, but increases are not always maintained. This review examined the effectiveness of PA interventions for behaviour change maintenance in young and middle–aged adults, and investigated which Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) and other intervention features were associated with maintenance. Methods Six databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, Web of Science) were systematically searched. Eligibility criteria were controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of PA interventions with adult (mean age 18–64 years) non-clinical populations using validated measures of PA behaviour at baseline and ≥six months’ post-baseline. Results were pooled in meta-analyses using standardised mean differences (SMD) at five time intervals (6–9, 9–15, 15–21, 21–24, >24 months). Moderator analyses investigated the influence of sample and intervention characteristics on PA maintenance at 6–9 months. Results Sixty-two studies were included. PA interventions had a significant effect on behaviour maintenance 6–15 months post-baseline relative to controls. Interventions had a larger effect on maintenance at 6–9 months (SMD = 0.28; 95% CI : 0.20, 0.35; I 2 = 73%) compared to 9–15 months (SMD = 0.20; 95% CI : 0.13, 0.26; I 2 = 70%). Beyond 15 months, PA measurements were infrequent with little evidence supporting maintenance. Moderator analyses showed some BCTs and intervention settings moderated PA outcomes at 6–9 months. A multivariable meta-regression model showed interventions using the BCTs ‘Prompt self-monitoring of behavioural outcome’ ( b = 1.46, p < 0.01) and ‘Use of follow-up prompts’ ( b = 0.38, p < 0.01) demonstrated greater effectiveness at promoting PA maintenance at 6–9 months. Interventions implemented in primary care (versus community or workplace/university) settings ( b = −0.13, p = 0.10) tended to demonstrate less effectiveness. Conclusions This review provides evidence of some effective BCTs for maintaining behaviour to 15 months. Greater consideration must be given to how future interventions encourage and measure maintenance of changes, and investigate broader psychological, social and environmental influences of PA behaviour. PROSPERO registration PROSPERO 2015:CRD42015025462. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.