The study aimed to determine the effects of three methods of exercise pro motion on the medium-term exercise behaviour and perceived health status (SF-36) of patients with significant medical problems, by a four-arm ran domised controlled trial of unsolicited exercise advice, individual exercise assessments and follow-up exercise sessions. A total of 386 (85 per cent) and 324 (71 per cent) patients responded to initial and follow-up mailings respectively. Fifty per cent of subjects attended for exercise assessment, of which 58 per cent completed four exercise sessions. Results showed encour aging trends for improved exercise behaviour and perceived health status in subjects allocated to the health promotion groups.
Health Education Authority.Health Update 5 - Physical Activity. London: HEA, 1995. ISBN 0 7521 0551 5.
2.
Lord JC, Green F.Exercise on prescription: does it work? Health Education Journal1995: 54: 453-64.
3.
Ward M.From Sedan Chair to Exercise Bike: a Guide to Setting up "Exercise on Prescription Schemes". Health Promotion Service, North Glamorgan NHS Trust, 1996.
4.
Webborn Adj.Exercise prescription in primary care. British Journal of General Practice1997: 47: 526-7 (letter).
5.
Jones F., Harris P.Adherence to prescribed exercise. In: Myers LB, Midence K (eds), Adherence to Treatment in Medical Conditions. Reading: Harwood Academic Press, 1998.
6.
Fox K., Biddle S., Edmunds L., Bowler I., Killoran A.Physical activity promotion through primary health care in England. British Journal of General Practice1997: 47: 367-9.
7.
Smith F., Iliffe S.Exercise prescription in primary care. British Journal of General Practice1997: 47: 272-3.
8.
Hillsdon M., Thorogood M., Anstiss T., Morris J.Randomised controlled trials of physical activity promotion in free living populations: a review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health1995: 49: 448-53.
9.
Iliffe S., See Tai S., Gould M., Thorogood M., Hilsdon M.Prescribing exercise in general practice. British Medical Journal1994: 309: 494-5.
10.
Sims J., Smith F., Duffy A., Hilton S.Can practice nurses increase physical activity in the over 65s? Methodological considerations from a pilot study. British Journal of General Practice1998: 48: 1249-50.
11.
Swinburn BA , Walter LG, Arroll B., Tilyard MW, Russell DGGreen prescriptions: attitudes and perceptions of general practitioners towards prescribing exercise. British Journal of General Practice1997: 47: 567-9.
12.
McMurdo Met , Johnstone R.A randomized controlled trial of a home exercise programme for elderly people with poor mobility. Age and Ageing1995: 24: 425-8.
13.
Brazier JE, Harper R., Jones Nmb, et al. Validating the SF-36 health survey questionnaire: new outcome measure for primary care. British Medical Journal1992: 305: 160-64.
14.
Marcus BH, Selby VC, Niaura RS, Rossi JSSelf-efficacy and the stages of exercise behaviour change. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport1992: 63: 60-66.
15.
Buxton K., Wyse J., Mercer T.How applicable is the stages of change model to exercise behaviour? A review . Health Education Journal1996: 55: 239-57.
16.
Health Education Authority.Becoming More Active. London: HEA , 1995.
17.
Swinburn BA , Walter LG, Arroll B., Tilyard MW, Russell DGThe green prescription study: a randomised control trial of written exercise advice provided by general practitioners . American Journal of Public Health1998: 88: 288-91.
18.
Davey R., Munro J.Exercise on the NHS: a cost-effective exercise for older adults. British Journal of General Practice1997: 47: 328 (letter).
Wannamethee SG , Shaper AG, Walker M.Changes in physical activity, mortality and incidence of coronary heart disease in older men. Lancet1998: 351: 1603-8.
21.
See Tai S., Gould M.Iliffe S.Promoting healthy exercise among older people in general practice: issues in designing and evaluating therapeutic interventions. British Journal of General Practice1997: 47: 119-22.
22.
Hakim AA, Petrovitch H., Burchfield CM, et al. Effects of walking on mortality among non-smoking retired men . New England Journal of Medicine1998: 338: 94-9.
