title: Long-term effectiveness of the New Zealand Green Prescription primary health care exercise initiative.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The rising incidence of non-communicable diseases in western countries is being driven by poor lifestyle choices, including increasingly inadequate physical activity. The aim of this study was to quantify the effectiveness of a physical activity primary care intervention named the 'Green Prescription' on changes in physical activity levels 2-3 year's following original prescription.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study design using a telephone interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity and health information was gathered from participants in June-September 2015, who were originally prescribed a primary care physical activity intervention 2-3 years ago. Respondents were classified as either having completed the programme (adherence group, n = 91) or having not completed the programme (non-adherence group, n = 56).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants who had completed the programme within the past 2-3 years reported an additional 64 min (95% CI = 16-110) of total physical activity per week compared to those who had dropped out. Forty-two percent of participants in the adherence group reported increased physical activity levels after receiving the Green Prescription compared to 29% in the non-adherence group. The adherence group were less likely to be sedentary (odds ratio 0.7, 95% CI = 0.5-0.9) and more likely to meet the current physical activity guidelines of at least 150 min of physical activity per week (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.0-1.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate a long-term benefit is likely to participants who completed Green Prescription.
authors: Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, P O Box 85084, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand. Electronic address: michael.hamlin@lincoln.ac.nz.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Hamlin
authors: Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, P O Box 85084, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Yule
authors: Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, P O Box 85084, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Elliot
authors: School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, Private Bag 756, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Stoner
authors: Sports Doctors, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Kathiravel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Clinical-based intervention; Disease prevention; Exercise; Physical activity; Physical activity counselling