Barriers and facilitators to implementing community-based physical activity interventions: a qualitative systematic review

Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (I-PARC)

Research output: Contribution to JournalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade several physical activity (PA) interventions have been shown to be efficacious in a controlled research setting, however there is a continued lack of evidence for how to successfully implement these PA interventions in real-world settings such as the community. This review aims to explore the barriers and facilitators that affect the implementation of community-based PA interventions and make recommendations to improve implementation from the included studies. METHODS: A systematic literature search of EBSCOhost, Scopus, PUBMED and Web of Science was conducted to identify articles that reported qualitative data on the implementation factors of community-based interventions where PA was a primary outcome. Data were extracted using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as a guide. Implementation factors and recommendations were then mapped onto the 5 domains of the CFIR and synthesised thematically. RESULTS: From 495 articles, a total of 13 eligible studies were identified, with 6 studies using a mixed methods approach, and 7 reporting qualitative methods only. There were 82 implementation factors identified, including 37 barriers and 45 facilitators, and a further 26 recommendations from the papers across all 5 domains of the CFIR. More barriers than facilitators were identified within the CFIR domain inner setting, in contrast to all other domains where facilitator numbers outweighed barriers. CONCLUSIONS: This review identified many facilitators and barriers of implementing physical activity interventions in the community. A key finding of this review was the impact of implementation strategies on successful implementation of community PA interventions. From the evidence, it was clear that many barriers to implementation could have been negated or reduced by an implementation plan in which several strategies are embedded. The findings of this review also suggest more attention to individual' skills and involvement is needed to improve self-efficacy and knowledge. The role of individuals across all organisational levels, from providers to leaders, can impact on the implementation of an intervention and its success. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO - CRD42020153821 .

Original languageEnglish
Article number118
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity
Volume18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021. The Author(s).

Copyright:
This record is sourced from MEDLINE/PubMed, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine

Funding

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of members of the I-PARC Steering Group who were important in providing feedback at different stages of this review: Prof. Adrian Bauman (The University of Sydney), Benny Cullen (Sport Ireland), Colette Brolly (Public Health Agency Northern Ireland), Dr. Enrique García Bengoechea (University of Limerick), Fiona Mansergh (Department of Health), Dr. Grainne O’Donoghue (University College Dublin), James Lavelle (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media), Prof. Nanette Mutrie (University of Edinburgh), Niamh Barry (Department of Education and Skills), Peter Smyth (Sport Ireland), Ronan Kielt (Department of Education and Skills), Sarah O’Brien (Health Service Executive), Shirley O’Shea (Health Service Executive), Vydehi Muppavarapu (Sport Ireland). This research was supported by a grant from the Health Research Board, Ireland. Grant number APA-2-17-030. This research was also supported by funding from Healthy Ireland (Department of Health, Ireland). The Health Research Board (HRB) is an Irish state agency that supports research and provides evidence to prevent illness, improve health and transform patient care. The funding sources had no role in the design of this study and will not have any role during its execution, analyses, interpretation of the data or decision to submit results.

FundersFunder number
Benny Cullen
Department of Health, Ireland
Fiona Mansergh
Peter Smyth
Public Health Agency Northern Ireland
Sport Ireland
Vydehi Muppavarapu
Health Research BoardAPA-2-17-030
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
An Roinn Sláinte
University of Edinburgh
University College Dublin
University of Limerick
University of Sydney

    Keywords

    • CFIR
    • Community
    • Implementation factors
    • Intervention
    • Physical activity
    • Physical health
    • Real-world
    • Systematic review

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