Table 1 Reviews considering population-based PA promotion approaches for the general population with a particular focus on health equity or people with social disadvantages
From: Population-based physical activity promotion with a focus on health equity: a review of reviews
Author | Title | Type of review | Type of data synthesis | Number of studies/reviews | Type of PA promotion approach | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ball et al. 2015 [6] | Addressing the social determinants of inequities in physical activity and sedentary behaviours | Narrative Review | Narratively summarized | 90 studies | environmental, policy, community-based multi-component, mass-media campaigns, point-of-decision prompts | - equitable promotion of PA promising for community-wide approaches; local and state governments to develop policies and practices; PA-friendly neighbourhood designs (including parks) |
Cavill & Rutter, 2017 [7] | Health Equity Pilot Project (HEPP)—Evidence review: The impact of interventions and policies on SES differentials in physical activity | Umbrella Review | Narratively summarized + Expert opinion | 6 reviews | environmental, policy, community-based multi-component | - urban regeneration programes, urban design and land use/transport policies, along with other attempts to revitalise the urban fabric and create more amenable and liveable conditions were effective to promote PA - no evidence of any differential impact on socioeconomic groups based on policy approaches - likely that those approaches reduce inequalities in health if implemented in areas of greatest need |
Hunter et al. 2019 [45] | Environmental, health, wellbeing, social and equity effects of urban green space interventions: A meta-narrative evidence synthesis | Systematic Review | Meta-narrative evidence synthesis | 38 studies | environmental | - supportive evidence for the use of certain urban green space (UGS) interventions for health, social and environmental benefits - strong evidence for park-based and greenway/trail interventions with a dual approach for park use and PA - too little evidence to draw firm conclusions on the impact of UGS interventions on a range of equity indicators |
Smith et al. 2017 [46] | Systematic literature review of built environment effects on physical activity and active transport – an update and new findings on health equity | Systematic Review | Narratively summarized | 28 studies | environmental | - positive effect of walkability components, provision of quality parks and playgrounds, and installation of or improvements in active transport infrastructure on active transport, PA, and visits or use of settings - some indication that infrastructure improvements may predominantly benefit socioeconomically advantaged groups |
Thomas et al. 2018 [48] | A review of the impact of physical activity mass-media campaigns on low compared to high socioeconomic groups | Systematic Review | Narratively summarized | 23 studies, 12 studies compared socioeconomic status differences | mass-media campaigns | - mostly equal or better impacts for the lowest SES (socioeconomic status) group compared to the highest SES group of PA mass-media campaigns - PA mass-media campaigns less frequently produced worse results for low SES groups |
Olstad et al. 2016 [47] | Can policy ameliorate socioeconomic inequities in obesity and obesity-related behaviours? A systematic review of the impact of universal policies on adults and children | Systematic Review | Narratively summarized | 36 studies | policy | - policies classified as agento-structural (change of structural aspects of environments but allow individual agency) or structural (change of the environmental context) and implemented at the macroenvironmental level or at the microenvironmental level did not negatively impact inequities in a range of PA behaviours (e.g. self-reported transportation-related PA, self-reported active travel, walking frequency, moderate to vigorous PA assessed via accelerometry) |