Identifying local authority need for, and uptake of, school-based physical activity promotion in England–a cluster analysis

Abstract

Background School-based physical activity interventions such as The Daily Mile (TDM) are widely promoted in children’s physical activity guidance. However, targeting such interventions to areas of greatest need is challenging since determinants vary across geographical areas. Our study aimed to identify local authorities in England with the greatest need to increase children’s physical activity and assess whether TDM reaches school populations in areas with the highest need. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using routinely collected data from Public Health England. Datasets on health, census and the built environment were linked. We conducted a hierarchical cluster analysis to group local authorities by ‘need’ and estimated the association between ‘need’ and registration to TDM. Results We identified three clusters of high, medium and low need for physical activity interventions in 123 local authorities. Schools in high-need areas were more likely to be registered with TDM (incidence rate ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.12–1.39) compared with low-need areas. Conclusions Determinants of children’s physical activity cluster geographically across local authorities in England. TDM appears to be an equitable intervention reaching schools in local authorities with the highest needs. Health policy should account for clustering of health determinants to match interventions with populations most in need.

Run, walk, cheer or volunteer: a patient and public involvement survey

“…1 29% of guardians agreed or strongly agreed that they encouraged daily PA. This was significantly lower (0.0013) than existing literature which found 43% of children in a similar region were meeting daily PA. 21 …”

“…However, our findings showed only 29.1% of guardians surveyed supported daily PA for their children, despite the majority of respondents reporting that they go out of their way to support PA. SCFT is based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. A previous study identified South Yorkshire as a ‘high need’ area for promotion of children’s PA 21. They reported 42% of all children in these areas were meeting PA guidelines 21.…”

“…1 Children with chronic health conditions, including asthma and diabetes, should partake in regular PA. 6 23 However, our findings showed only 29.1% of guardians surveyed supported daily PA for their children, despite the majority of respondents reporting that they go out of their way to support PA. SCFT is based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. A previous study identified South Yorkshire as a ‘high need’ area for promotion of children’s PA. 21 They reported 42% of all children in these areas were meeting PA guidelines. 21 This is significantly higher (p=0.0013) than the percentage of guardians in our study who reported daily PA for their children.…”

“…A previous study identified South Yorkshire as a ‘high need’ area for promotion of children’s PA. 21 They reported 42% of all children in these areas were meeting PA guidelines. 21 This is significantly higher (p=0.0013) than the percentage of guardians in our study who reported daily PA for their children. Existing literature also suggests that children with disabilities engage in less PA than children without disabilities.…”

“…20 The two-sample Mann-Whitney U test was applied, with significance level set to 0.05. The percentage of guardians reporting that they supported daily PA for their child was compared with available literature on children meeting daily PA guidelines in a similar region, 21 using the one-sample proportion test and significance level set to 0.05.…”