Intervention development for exercise promotion at active charity events in the UK

Background: This study used the Intervention Mapping protocol to design an evidence-based intervention package for organisers of active charity events to support their participants in remaining or becoming regular exercisers.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach following the Intervention Mapping protocol was used to develop intervention components. A needs assessment was initially performed to identify the behavioural and environmental determinants of exercise for charity event participants (step 1). Next, the intended intervention outcomes, and performance and change objectives were specified (step 2). Theory-based change methods were selected and matched with practical strategies (step 3). This resulted in the design of the first iteration of the intervention which underwent pre-testing with former event participants and feasibility testing at an active charity event (step 4).

Results: The evidence-based interventions included components to implement at events (e.g., an activity and information zone, and exercise planner), along with elements pre- and postevent (e.g., social media). Pre-testing indicated high acceptability of the planned components, but feasibility testing suggested low engagement with the intervention.

Conclusion: Despite developing the intervention package through the systematic process of Intervention Mapping, preliminary data suggest that further development and testing is needed to refine the intervention before implementation.