Active children through incentive vouchers – evaluation (ACTIVE): a mixed-method feasibility study

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescents face many barriers to physical activity, demonstrated by the decline in physical activity levels in teenage populations. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of overcoming such barriers via the implementation of an activity-promoting voucher scheme to teenagers in deprived areas.MethodsAll Year 9 pupils (n = 115; 13.3 ± 0.48 years; 51 % boys) from one secondary school in Wales (UK) participated. Participants received £25 of activity vouchers every month for six months for physical activity or sporting equipment. Focus groups (n = 7), with 43 pupils, and qualitative interviews with teachers (n = 2) were conducted to assess feasibility, in addition to a process evaluation utilising the RE-AIM framework. Quantitative outcomes at baseline, five months (during intervention) and twelve months (follow-up) included: physical activity (accelerometer), aerobic fitness (12 min Cooper run) and self-reported activity (PAQ-A). Motivation to exercise (BREQ-2) was measured three months post-baseline and at follow-up.ResultsQualitative findings showed that vouchers encouraged friends to socialise through activity, provided opportunities to access local activities that pupils normally could not afford, and engaged both those interested and disinterested in physical education. Improvements in weekend moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reductions in sedentary behaviour were observed in both sexes. Boys’ fitness significantly improved during the voucher scheme. ‘Non-active’ pupils (those not meeting recommended guidelines of 60 mins∙day−1) and those with higher motivation to exercise had higher voucher use.ConclusionsAdolescents, teachers and activity providers supported the voucher scheme and felt the vouchers enabled deprived adolescents to access more physical activity opportunities. Voucher usage was associated with improved attitudes to physical activity, increased socialisation with friends and improved fitness and physical activity; presenting interesting avenues for further exploration in a larger intervention trial.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3381-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Active Children Through Individual Vouchers Evaluation: A Mixed-Method RCT

“…9 Teenagers report the main barrier to meeting PA recommendations is accessibility to PA opportunities. 4,10,11 Accessibility is affected by cost, lack of local facilities, and motivation among teenagers, 10,12 especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 13 Self-determination theory (SDT) 14 has emerged as a popular framework for examining motivation and PA 15 as it differentiates between controlled motivation (e.g., regulated by external pressure or guilt) and autonomous motivation (e.g., regulated by enjoyment).…”

Active children through individual vouchers – evaluation (ACTIVE): protocol for a mixed method randomised control trial to increase physical activity levels in teenagers

“…The project encourages teenagers to access existing provisions or generate their own in order to tackle accessibility issues and create the opportunity to participate in desired activities [15]. Evidence has shown that empowering teenagers to make their own choices over which activity they engage in, the location where they engage, and the people they participate with, can improve activity levels [17].…”

A loyalty scheme to encourage physical activity in office workers: a cluster RCT

“…The trial concluded that the addition of a financial incentive was effective in increasing physical activity levels. Christian et al 30 also sought to explore the feasibility of using financial incentives to increase physical activity levels in a teenage population (13.3 ± 0.43 years). The intervention involved provision of £25 of vouchers (five vouchers in increments of £5) per month for 6 months.…”