Results of a randomized controlled trial to promote physical activity behaviours in mothers with young children.
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.
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.
Sarojini Maria Dos Remedios
SM
Monteiro
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.
Jonine
J
Jancey
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.
Satvinder S
SS
Dhaliwal
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.
Peter A
PA
Howat
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.
Sharyn
S
Burns
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.
Andrew P
AP
Hills
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.
Annie S
AS
Anderson
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011633:Public Facilities; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D014904:Western Australia