Is health-related quality of life a suitable outcome measure for evaluating health promotion programmes?

This study describes results from a double blind randomised controlled trial which examined the efficacy of a primary care-based exercise promotion programme (the Health Walks Scheme). Quality of life data from the SF-36 questionnaire are presented from 260 previously sedentary participants randomly selected from a large GP practice (data are available for 72% at the 12-month follow-up). After 12 months, only 61% of participants in the health walks group were still classified as sedentary, compared with 73% in the control group who were simply given advice regarding exercise (p=0.05). There were no significant changes in the dimensions of the SF-36 questionnaire at 12 months. Those people who actually completed a health walk showed larger improvements in dimensions of the SF-36 (although these were also not significant). The appropriateness of quality of life outcome measures in health promotion trials is discussed in the light of the findings.