Developing, delivering, and evaluating the impact of, behaviour change interventions in community leisure centres
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Health and Related Research
Abstract
The overall aim of this project is to identify specific policy and practice interventions that could influence positive behavious change with users of local community-based sport. exercise and leisure facilities in order to inform decision-making by both commissioners and providers of leisure facilities
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000746/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 1941047 | Studentship | ES/P000746/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2020 | Matthew Rand |
| Description | The overall research project has investigated how attendances at health and fitness venues can be increased. All of the research has been in collaboration with Sheffield City Trust. Broadly, there have four research questions that can be summarised as follows: 1) What happens to attendance over the year and what factors correlate with the maintenance of attendance (i.e. attendance at quarter four from initial signup)? 2) What factors facilitate/enable attendance at health and fitness venues? 3) What techniques have been used previously (in academic literature) to increase attendance at health and fitness venues? 4) Can a Randomised Controlled Trial focusing on the development of habit increase attendance at health and fitness venues? The outcomes from this research are as follows: Understanding attendance Analysis of 1726 members' attendances over a year. Attendance declines each month for the 12 months. Mean attendances: Month 1 = 7.48, Month 3 = 4.19, Month 6 = 2.44, Month 9 = 1.76, Month 12 = 0.92 Age, quarter 1 attendance and habit correlated with quarter 4 attendance. Gender and home location did not, however this does not mean they don't correlate when measured differently (e.g. many people attend the largest venue in the city centre, but not many members live in this area). When members developed a habit in month 3 of their membership, it predicted significantly with attendance in quarter 4. Facilitating attendance 2) What factors facilitate/enable attendance at health and fitness venues? 5 major themes; Routine [Consistency; Lifestyle Integration; Habitual Preparation] Drivers [Underlying Motivators; Appropriate Activity; Goal-setting] Accomplishment [Tracking Activity; Progress] Venue Experience [Familiarity; Social; Specific Preferences] Convenience [Accessibility; Timing] Increasing attendance 3) What techniques have been used previously (in academic literature) to increase attendance at health and fitness venues? A variety of techniques have been utilised, including = Goal setting, Problem Solving, Action planning, Reviewing behavioural goal, Having feedback on behaviour, Self-monitoring of behaviour, Prompts/cues and incentives (e.g. financial incentives) Generally small effect sizes (i.e. unsuccessful in increasing attendance). One study with "goal-setting" found a large effect size. 4) Implementation of a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) aimed to increase attendance at health and fitness venues. RCT currently running with FU members. 219 members sent a "Habit Planner" to try and encourage habitual behaviour. Their attendance 6 months from sign up is being measured along with their habit behaviour. This group's results will be compared with a comparison (control) group. The results will be established later in 2020. |
| Exploitation Route | Sheffield City Trust are currently integrating the outcomes in their day to day operations to increase attendances and as part of future strategies to increase the attendance of their members. It is expected that the outcomes of the work can be utilised by national bodies and integrated into public policy to assist organisations in trying to find mechanisms that support greater attendances at health and fitness venues, |
| Sectors | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |