RehabMove 2018: Stimulating physical activity in hard-to-reach physically disabled people; systematic development of a community-based intervention

PURPOSE: Physically disabled people participate less in physical activity (PA) than healthy people. Most existing PA interventions are rehabilitation- or school based, limiting their reach. The current study aims to develop a community-based intervention for stimulating PA in hard-to-reach physically disabled people. METHODS: Intervention Mapping (6 steps) was used for systematically developing a PA intervention. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) of physically disabled people was measured using the RAND-36. Requirements on an intervention were investigated using qualitative research among experts and physically disabled people. RESULTS: HRQoL was poorer in physically disabled people compared to healthy people (step 1). Since experts expressed no need for a new intervention, the existing intervention “Activity coach” (Dutch: Beweegcoach) was adapted to the requirements of experts and the target population. Within the adapted intervention, “Activity coach+”, participants will be reached by a network of intermediate organizations. Participants will have a physical assessment by physiotherapists, and will be individually guided to organized or non-organized activities by an activity coach. Participants will monitor and set goals for daily PA using an activity tracker. Participants will be coached one year (step 4). Activity coaches were trained and network meetings were organized to support adoption and implementation (step 5). Activity coach+ is implemented in community March 2017, and will be evaluated using a mixed-method design. PA will be objectively monitored, and health effects will be evaluated using questionnaires and physical assessments after 0, 2, 4, 6 and 12 months. Experiences with the intervention will be determined using qualitative research (step 6). CONCLUSION: Activity Coach+ included a community-based intervention for stimulating both organized and non-organized PA in hard-to-reach physically disabled people, and is currently under evaluation.