Results of a randomized controlled trial to promote physical activity behaviours in mothers with young children

Sarojini Maria Dos Remedios Monteiro; Jonine Jancey; Satvinder S Dhaliwal; Peter A Howat; Sharyn Burns; Andrew P Hills; Annie S Anderson

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.10.022

Results of a randomized controlled trial to promote physical activity behaviours in mothers with young children

Prev Med. 2014 Feb:59:12-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.10.022. Epub 2013 Nov 9.

Authors

Sarojini Maria Dos Remedios Monteiro¹, Jonine Jancey², Satvinder S Dhaliwal³, Peter A Howat⁴, Sharyn Burns⁵, Andrew P Hills⁶, Annie S Anderson⁷

Affiliations

¹ Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. Electronic address: ginny.monteiro@gmail.com.
² Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia; Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. Electronic address: j.jancey@curtin.edu.au.
³ Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia; Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. Electronic address: s.dhaliwal@curtin.edu.au.
⁴ Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia; Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. Electronic address: p.howat@curtin.edu.au.
⁵ Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research, School of Public Health, Curtin University, PO BOX U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. Electronic address: s.burns@curtin.edu.au.
⁶ Mater Mothers' Hospital and Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, Level 3 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: ahills@mmri.mater.org.au.
⁷ Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Public Health Nutrition Research, Level 7, Mailbox 7, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland DD1 9SY, UK; Centre for Research into Cancer Prevention and Screening, Level 7, Mailbox 7, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland DD1 9SY, UK; Population Health Sciences, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: a.s.anderson@dundee.ac.uk.

PMID: 24220099
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.10.022

Abstract

Objective: Increasing levels of physical activity in mothers have long-term health benefits for the mother and family. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a six-month, physical activity RCT for mothers of young children.

Methods: Women were recruited via playgroups and randomly assigned to intervention (n=394) or control group (n=322). The intervention group received a six-month multi-strategy programme delivered via playgroups in Perth, Australia. measures were mean minutes per week of moderate (M) and vigorous (V) intensity physical activity (PA), and number of days/week of muscle strength exercises.

Results: The intervention had a significant effect on mean time for vigorous (p=0.008), moderate (p=0.023) and total physical activity (p=0.001) when compared to the control group. The intervention group increased their vigorous activity by a mean of 24min/week, moderate activity by 23min/week and total physical activity by 72min/week.

Conclusions: A relatively minimum home based intervention was able to demonstrate modest but statistically significant improvements in physical activity in a hard to reach group. These changes if maintained over a longer period are likely to improve the health of mothers and have a positive impact on their partners and children. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12609000735257.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Child, Preschool
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Group Processes
Health Behavior*
Health Promotion / methods*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers / psychology*
Mothers / statistics & numerical data
Pilot Projects
Play and Playthings
Public Facilities
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Walking / physiology*
Western Australia

Grants and funding

G0701771/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom