Increasing Physical Activity in Medium Secure Mental Health Services in England

Introduction: 



The IMPACT study (Increasing Physical Activity in Medium Secure Services: The Development and Feasibility of a Physical ACTivity Intervention) aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators to increasing physical activity in a medium secure setting, to understand how to deliver an intervention and engage service users, to co-produce, develop and test the feasibility of the physical activity intervention. 



Methods: 



There were four phases in the IMPACT study, using a mixed methods approach. Phase 1 obtained quantitative data via questionnaires on opinions of barriers and facilitators to increasing physical activity, with service users (n=69) residing in such settings and focus group with hospital staff (n=29). 



Phase 2 (n=15) and Phase 3 (n=25) collected qualitative data through focus groups with service users, hospital staff and other key stakeholders to establish how to maintain engagement, deliver an intervention and to co-produce a physical activity intervention.  



Phase 4 tested the feasibility of the physical activity intervention at two medium secure study sites in the NHS, UK. This involved service users (n=33) recruited onto the intervention and collecting data on their physical activity levels, clinical measurements and qualitative feedback. Hospital staff (n=36) were also recruited as facilitators and asked to provide feedback on the delivery and usability of the intervention. 



Results/Discussions: 



The quantitative data from all four phases were statistically analysed and the qualitative data thematically analysed using Framework Analysis. Results suggest that it is feasible to co-produce, deliver and maintain a physical activity intervention in such settings. Further discussions and evaluations are required to refine and improve the intervention, such as technology used to deliver it and other contextual factors as part of a hospital setting.   



This field of research is important for service users’ quality of life and previously overlooked due to the complex nature of the environment in secure psychiatric settings.