Abstract

Contents

• NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
• List of abbreviations
• Executive summary
• 1. Background
  • Physical activity and health
  • Physical activity promotion in primary care
  • Development of exercise referral schemes in the UK
  • Current guidance on exercise referral schemes in the UK
  • Summary
• 2. Definition of the decision problem
  • Decision problem
  • Overall aims and objectives of assessment
• 3. Systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of exercise referral schemes
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Summary
• 4. Systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of exercise referral schemes
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Summary
• 5. Systematic review of the predictors of exercise referral scheme uptake and adherence
  • Background
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Summary
• 6. Economic modelling of cost-effectiveness
  • Introduction
  • Methods for cost–utility modelling approach
  • Results
  • Subgroup analysis of exercise referral schemes in individuals with pre-existing conditions
  • Summary of the cost–utility analysis
  • Limitations of the analysis
  • Further development of the cost–utility analysis to include short-term quality-adjusted life-year gains resulting from physical activity
  • Cost–consequence analysis
  • Summary
• 7. Discussion
  • Statement of principal findings
  • Strengths and limitations of the assessment
  • Uncertainties
• 8. Conclusions
  • Implications for service provisions
  • Suggested research priorities
• Acknowledgements
• References
• Appendix 1 Common included conditions in exercise referral schemes
• Appendix 2 Literature search strategies
• Appendix 3 Summary of excluded studies
• Appendix 4 Detailed data extraction: effectiveness systematic review
• Appendix 5 Detailed data extraction: cost-effectiveness systematic review
• Appendix 6 Detailed data extraction: predictors of uptake and adherence systematic review
• Appendix 7 Economic modelling: supplementary information
• Appendix 8 Protocol
• Health Technology Assessment programme

Suggested citation:

Pavey TG, Anokye N, Taylor AH, Trueman P, Moxham T, Fox KR, et al. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of exercise referral schemes: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess 2011;15(44).

Declared competing interests of authors: JS is Chief Medical Officer of the Fitness Industry Association (FIA). The FIA meets his receipted expenses. The post attracts neither a salary nor fees.

The research reported in this issue of the journal was commissioned by the HTA programme as project number 08/72/01. The contractual start date was in September 2009. The draft report began editorial review in December 2010 and was accepted for publication in March 2011. As the funder, by devising a commissioning brief, the HTA programme specified the research question and study design. The authors have been wholly responsible for all data collection, analysis and interpretation, and for writing up their work. The HTA editors and publisher have tried to ensure the accuracy of the authors' report and would like to thank the referees for their constructive comments on the draft document. However, they do not accept liability for damages or losses arising from material published in this report.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the HTA programme or the Department of Health.