Elsevier

Preventive Medicine

Volume 65, August 2014, Pages 33-39
Preventive Medicine

Knowledge of UK physical activity guidelines: Implications for better targeted health promotion

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.04.016Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Knowledge provides an important pre-cursor to PA behaviour change

  • We investigated the correlates of knowledge of the UK PA guidelines

  • There is a need to increase awareness about the level of PA for health benefits

  • Specific socio-demographic factors distinguish those who are unaware of guidelines

  • Results have implications for the design of targeted, effective health promotion

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the correlates of knowledge of the UK physical activity (PA) guidelines.

Method

A Northern Ireland-wide population survey (2010/2011) of 4653 adults provided cross-sectional data on PA, knowledge of guidelines and socio-demographic characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the associations between knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics (Model 1); and modifiable health behaviours (Model 2).

Results

Results showed that 47% of respondents were unaware of PA guidelines. Males who had a lower level of education (OR 5.91; 95% CI 1.67, 20.94), lived in more deprived areas (OR 4.80; 95% CI 1.87, 12.30), low income (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.63, 3.41) and did no PA (OR 2.74; 95% CI 1.31, 5.76) were more likely to be unaware of the guidelines. Females who were younger (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02, 1.05) and reported poor health (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.61, 4.58) were more likely to be unaware of the guidelines.

Conclusion

There is a lack of awareness about the levels of PA needed to promote health. An understanding of the characteristics of those who are unaware of the guidelines has important implications for the design of targeted, effective health promotion.

Introduction

The physical inactivity ‘pandemic’ is believed to be responsible for up to 10% of all deaths from non-communicable diseases (Kohl et al., 2012, Lee et al., 2012) and is associated with significant economic costs (Allender et al., 2007). The UK Chief Medical Officers' recent report on physical activity (PA) (Department of Health, 2011) has again highlighted the considerable expected benefits to public health if we meet the PA guidelines. These guidelines outline a minimum recommended level of PA to confer health benefits. Despite such advice, data for Northern Ireland (Sport Northern Ireland, 2010) show that over 60% of adults are not meeting current guidelines while in England the figure is even higher (80%) (Farrell et al., 2013).

Much of the research to date has investigated the correlates of PA behaviour (Anokye et al., 2013, Bauman et al., 2012, Bergmann et al., 2008, Butcher et al., 2008, Coombes et al., 2010, Martin et al., 2000, Meseguer et al., 2009, Santos et al., 2009, Stamatakis et al., 2009) with little consideration of how this varies according to actual knowledge of PA guidelines. An understanding of the correlates of knowledge of the guidelines could help to identify specific groups who might benefit from better targeted, health promotion campaigns and lead to increasing the proportion of the population who are physically active. The Hierarchy of Effects model highlights the importance of awareness and knowledge as a pre-requisite to influencing beliefs and social norms that can subsequently result in behaviour change (McGuire, 1984, McGuire, 2001). This model suggests that achieving behaviour change requires high levels of awareness among the target audience, and hypothesises that the impact of an effective health promotion campaign is based on three stages; (1) increasing exposure and raising awareness of the campaign (Attention); (2) understanding of the message (Comprehension); and (3) intention to change behaviour, followed by actual behaviour change (Acceptance).

Previous research of knowledge of PA guidelines has been conducted mainly in US populations, demonstrating a major lack of awareness and knowledge of such guidelines (0.56–36.1%) (Bennett et al., 2009, Cunningham et al., 2013, Moore et al., 2010). Previous studies have shown that gender, socio-economic factors and other health behaviours have been correlated with a lack of awareness of the guidelines (Bennett et al., 2009, Cunningham et al., 2013, Moore et al., 2010). However, earlier studies have only investigated whether participants correctly identified the guidelines. We postulate that participants who underestimate, overestimate or who are simply unaware of the guidelines require specific, tailored health promotion messages. For example, those who underestimate the level of PA required to meet the guidelines may not see the need to change their current behaviour as they incorrectly consider themselves to be sufficiently active. Conversely, those who overestimate the recommended level of PA may feel that this is unachievable and are consequently unmotivated.

Knowledge of guidelines is an important pre-cursor to behaviour change (Snyder, 2007) and an understanding of the correlates can help develop targeted, effective health promotion interventions. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate the correlates of knowledge of the UK PA guidelines.

Section snippets

Survey

The Sport and Physical Activity Survey (SAPAS), commissioned by Sport Northern Ireland, is an interviewer administered survey among a stratified random sample of adults aged 16 + years old (n = 4653) across Northern Ireland (Sport Northern Ireland, 2010). Interviews were conducted face-to-face using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) by an independent survey company. The fieldwork was carried out continuously over a 12-month period. The average questionnaire completion time was 28 min.

A

Demographic characteristics

Demographic characteristics of the sample are shown in Table 1. The mean age of the sample was 45 years old (95% CI 44.51, 45.58), 54.5% economically active, 24.6% had no formal qualifications, 39% earned less than £10,000 annually and approximately two thirds of the sample (64.6%) did not report sufficient activity to meet the guidelines. Appendix A displays the demographic characteristics of the sample cross tabulated by knowledge of PA guidelines.

Knowledge of physical activity guidelines

Fig. 1 shows that 44.6% reported that the

Discussion

Despite the efforts of public health promotion, there is a considerable lack of knowledge of guidelines highlighting the minimum amount of PA recommended by the UK Government. Results from our study showed that only 8.4% of the Northern Ireland population were able to correctly identify the recommended minimum amount of PA, which is similar to previous research in the US (0.56–36.1%) (Bennett et al., 2009, Cunningham et al., 2013, Moore et al., 2010).

Our study demonstrated distinct correlates

Conclusion

The findings suggest that there are certain socio-demographic characteristics that could be used to help meaningfully target health promotion to raise the level of knowledge of the PA guidelines. In particular, males who have a lower level of education, living in more deprived areas, with low income, and young females and females with reported poor health may benefit from particular targeted PA guideline promotion interventions. Knowledge alone is not enough to change behaviour, but it can

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This research was supported by funding from the National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI) (grant number G0802045) and their funding partners (Alzheimer's Research Trust; Alzheimer's Society; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; British Heart Foundation; Cancer Research UK; Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health Directorate; Department of Health; Diabetes UK; Economic and Social Research Council; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; Health and

Contributorship statement

RFH had the initial concept for the study. PD, MAT and FK were involved in the design of the survey, and PD was responsible for the acquisition of the data. RFH and MS were responsible for analysing and interpreting data. RFH drafted the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. FK is guarantor.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Sport Northern Ireland for granting access to the data from the Northern Ireland-wide survey.

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