Systematic review of incidental physical activity community interventions

Background. Increasing incidental physical activity (IPA) such as active transport has substantial public health potential. Objective. This systematic review describes community-based and community-wide IPA interventions and assesses their effectiveness. Method. Data sources (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL) were searched along with the reference lists of identified systematic reviews and included articles. Eligibility criteria; 4+ weeks in duration; 20+ participants; community-based or community-wide; stated aim to increase IPA. Results. Forty three studies were identified from 42 original articles; more than half (60%) aimed to increase stair use compared to escalator and/or lift use; a quarter (23%) aimed to increase active transport; and, 16% to increase playground energy expenditure. More than two-thirds of studies reported a significant increase in IPA. Accurate comparisons between studies were not possible due to substantial heterogeneity in study design. Critical appraisal of studies revealed that the level of bias was moderate-high in most of the studies (77%). Conclusion. Due to the heterogeneity and bias of included studies, only limited conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of IPA interventions. However, this systematic review provides a timely summary of current evidence that can be used to inform derision-makers in designing IPA interventions in the community. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.