The effect of an exercise referral program (exercise on prescription) on physical activity among non-Western migrant women: a randomized controlled trial

In the Netherlands, only half of the population meets the current recommendations for physical activity. Several studies in the Netherlands have shown that non-Western migrant populations, are even less physically active than the ethnic Dutch population. A lack of physical activity is an important risk factor for disease and may therefore be a major contributing factor to disparities in health that are observed among these populations. Of the interventions aimed at increasing physical activity that have been developed in the Netherlands, the exercise referral scheme “Bewegen op Recept” (BOR), is one that successfully targets this population. The main objective of our study is to evaluate the effect of an exercise referral scheme (BOR) on physical activity among women with a non-Western background. The study will be set up as a randomised controlled trial. In total, 350 women, recruited from general practices in deprived neighbourhoods in The Hague, will be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. Women in the intervention group will have an intake with a lifestyle advisor, followed by 20 supervised exercise sessions. After 6 months, i.e. at the end of the intervention, and after 12 months, i.e. 6 months after the intervention, the level of physical activity and several other secondary outcomes, will be assessed in both groups.

Data will be collected at baseline, after 6 months and after 12 months.

Women are randomized into the intervention group (exercise on prescription) or into the control group. The intervention consists of 20 weekly sessions of supervised exercise. The control group receives usual care.