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Table 1 Study characteristics and risk of bias ratings in the included studies

From: Interventions aimed at increasing the level of physical activity by including organised follow-up: a systematic review of effect

Study location

Design overall risk of bias

Participants longest follow-up

Intervention and duration

Comparison

Physical activity outcomes

Measured by

Isaacs 2007 [17] England

RCT Unclear3,4,5,7

943 adults 40–74 years 3 months

Supervised PA in groups

Advice

Minutes of PA/week

Questionnaire on 7-day leisure time activities, walking, occupational activity and work in the home [48]

Energy expenditure, kcal/kg/week

1) strength, fitness

2) walks led by instructor

Duration: 10 weeks

Park 2011 [18] South Korea

RCT Unclear1,2,3,4,5

45 older adults ≥ 65 years Post-treatment

Supervised PA in groups

No treatment

MET-adjusted minutes of PA/week

International Physical Activity Questionnaire [49]

Duration: 12 weeks

Elley 2003 [19] New Zealand

Cluster-RCT Unclear2,3,4

878 adults 40–79 years 9 months

Referral to local resources w/follow-up

Advice

Energy expenditure, kcal/kg/week

Auckland Heart Study Physical Activity Questionnaire [50]

Duration: 12 weeks

Fortier 2011 [20] Canada

RCT Low3

120 adults 18–69 years 3 months

Referral to local resources w/follow-up

Advice

Minutes of moderate PA/day

Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire [51]; accelerometer [52]

PA score

Duration: 12 weeks

Harrison 2004 [21] England

RCT Low4

545 adults ≥ 18 years 9 months

Referral to local resources w/follow-up

Advice

Number of participants who met PA goal (90 min/week)

Adapted 7-Day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire [53]

Duration: 12 weeks

Stevens 1998 [22] England

RCT Unclear2,3,4,5,7

714 adults 45–74 years 4 months

Referral to local resources w/follow-up

Advice

Level of PA last 4 weeks

Adapted 7-Day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire [53]

Duration: 10 weeks

Armit 2009 [23] Australia

RCT Low2,4

136 adults 50–70 years 3 months

1) Referral to local resources w/follow-up

Advice

Number of participants who met PA goal (150 min/week)

Active Australia Physical Activity Questionnaire [54]

2) Self-organised PA w/follow-up

Duration: 12 weeks

Taylor 1998 [24] England

RCT Unclear2,3,4,5

142 adults 40–70 years 6 months

Referral to local resources w/follow-up

No treatment

Minutes of PA/week

7-Day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire [53]

Energy expenditure, kcal/kg/day

Duration: 10 weeks

Bjørk Petersen 2012 [25] Denmark

RCT Unclear1,3,4

655 adults ≥ 18 years Post-treatment

Self-organised PA w/follow-up

Advice

Minutes of PA/week

International Physical Activity Questionnaire [49]; ergometer [55, 56]

Increased level of PA

Duration: 12 weeks

Aerobic capacity

Harland 1999 [26] England

RCT Low2,3

209 adults 40–64 years§ 9 months

Self-organised PA w/follow-up

Advice

PA score

National Fitness Survey Questionnaire [57]

- level of PA

Duration: 12 weeks

- occasions with PA

Baker 2008 [27] Scotland

RCT Unclear1,3

79 adults 18–65 years Post-treatment

Self-organised PA w/follow-up

No treatment

Number of steps/day

Pedometer [58]

Duration: 12 weeks

Green 2002 [28] USA

RCT Low3

316 adults 18–65 years 3 months

Self-organised PA w/follow-up

No treatment

PA score

Physician Assessment and Counselling for Exercise [59]

Duration: 12 weeks

Kirkwood 2007 [29] Scotland

RCT High1,2,3,4,5

34 adult women 30–50 years Post-treatment

Self-organised PA w/follow-up

No treatment

Energy expenditure, kcal/kg/day

Accelerometer [60]

Duration: 12 weeks

Kolt 2007 [30] New Zealand

RCT Unclear2,3,4,5

186 older adults ≥ 65 years 9 months

Self-organised PA w/follow-up

No treatment

Minutes of PA/week

Auckland Heart Study Physical Activity Questionnaire [50]

   

Duration: 12 weeks

   
  1. Legend: PA = physical activity; domains where risk of bias was rated as low, unclear or high at study level: 1sequence generation, 2allocation concealment, 3blinding of participants and personnel, 4blinding of outcome assessment, 5incomplete outcome data, 6selective outcome reporting, 7other potential threats to validity; §data for Group 3 used.