title: The effectiveness of physical activity interventions in socio-economically disadvantaged communities: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interventions to increase levels of physical activity (PA) in socio-economically disadvantaged communities are needed but little is known about their effectiveness. This review examines the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase PA in these communities and the theoretical frameworks and components used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five databases were searched for papers published in English between January 2000 and December 2010 that reported outcomes of PA interventions in socio-economically disadvantaged communities. Studies targeting individuals with pre-existing disease and not reporting a measure of free-living PA were excluded. Two reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated quality of evidence against pre-defined criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 478 publications identified, 27 were included. We found that group-based interventions were effective for adults but not for children; evidence for the effectiveness of interventions targeting individuals was insufficient; limited evidence suggested that community-wide interventions produced small changes in PA. Interventions underpinned by any theoretical framework, compared to none, were more likely to be effective. Several effective interventions included education, PA and social support components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to other approaches, multi-component adult group-based interventions with theoretical frameworks are most effective in increasing PA in socio-economically disadvantaged communities. More robust evaluations of interventions targeting individuals in these 'hard-to-reach' communities are required.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Clinical Sciences Block B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 6BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cupples
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012923:Social Class; D035862:Vulnerable Populations