J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:755-761 ( October )

Public health policy and practice

National level promotion of physical activity: results from England's ACTIVE for LIFE campaign M Hillsdon^a, N Cavill^b, K Nanchahal^c, A Diamond^b, I R White^c

^a Health Promotion Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK, ^b Formerly Health Education Authority, UK, ^c Medical Statistics Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Correspondence to: Dr Hillsdon, Health Promotion Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK (melvyn.hillsdon{at}lshtm.ac.uk)

Accepted for publication 8 May 2001

STUDY OBJECTIVETo assess the impact of a national campaign on awareness of the campaign, change in knowledge of physical activity recommendations and self reported physical activity.
DESIGNthree year prospective longitudinal survey using a multi-stage, cluster random probability design to select participants.
SETTINGEngland.
PARTICIPANTSA nationally representative sample of 3189 adults aged 16-74 years.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESAwareness of the advertising element of the campaign, changes in knowledge of physical activity recommendations for health and self reported physical activity.
RESULTS38% of participants were aware of the main advertising images, assessed six to eight months after the main television advertisement. The proportion of participants knowledgeable about moderate physical activity recommendations increased by 3.0% (95% CI: 1.4%, 4.5%) between waves 1 and 2 and 3.7% (95% CI: 2.1%, 5.3%) between waves 1 and 3. The change in proportion of active people between baseline and waves 1 and 2 was
0.02 (95% CI: 2.0 to +1.7) and between waves 1 and 3 was 9.8 (7.9 to 11.7).
CONCLUSIONThe proportion of participants who were knowledgeable about the new recommendations, increased significantly after the campaign. There was however, no significant difference in knowledge by awareness of the main campaign advertisement. There is no evidence that ACTIVE for LIFE improved physical activity, either overall or in any subgroup.


Keywords: exercise; mass media; follow up studies; health promotion; physical activity

---

© 2001 by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Morley, B., Wakefield, M., Dunlop, S., Hill, D. (2009). Impact of a mass media campaign linking abdominal obesity and cancer: a natural exposure evaluation. Health Educ Res 0: cyp034v1-cyp034 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Baker, H, Murdoch, I E (2008). Can a public health intervention improve awareness and health-seeking behaviour for glaucoma?. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 92: 1671-1675 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Peterson, M., Chandlee, M., Abraham, A. (2008). Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Statewide Media Campaign to Promote Adolescent Physical Activity. Health Promot Pract 9: 426-433 [Abstract]  
• Craig, C., Tudor-Locke, C, Bauman, A (2007). Twelve-month effects of Canada on the Move: a population-wide campaign to promote pedometer use and walking. Health Educ Res 22: 406-413 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Popham, F., Mitchell, R. (2006). Leisure time exercise and personal circumstances in the working age population: longitudinal analysis of the British household panel survey.. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 60: 270-274 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Peterson, M., Abraham, A., Waterfield, A. (2005). Marketing Physical Activity: Lessons Learned From a Statewide Media Campaign. Health Promot Pract 6: 437-446 [Abstract]  
• Huhman, M., Potter, L. D., Wong, F. L., Banspach, S. W., Duke, J. C., Heitzler, C. D. (2005). Effects of a Mass Media Campaign to Increase Physical Activity Among Children: Year-1 Results of the VERB Campaign. Pediatrics 116: e277-e284 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Whitelaw, S., Watson, J. (2005). Whither health promotion events? A judicial approach to evidence. Health Educ Res 20: 214-225 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Foster, C., Hillsdon, M., Thorogood, M. (2004). Environmental perceptions and walking in English adults. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 58: 924-928 [Abstract] [Full Text]