Establishing whether a full trial of the NHS Active 10 app is feasible to determine if this physical activity tool can be integrated into NHS Health Checks for older people to improve their cost‑effectiveness and reach, or whether current spending should be redirected toward more effective alternatives.
Why is the research needed?
Older adults are not moving enough, leading to many problems common in older age. Current programs to get older adults moving more do not work long-term. Mobile apps could provide a cheaper alternative that works long-term, and might reach more people than current programs. The NHS runs an app entitled 'Active 10' to encourage walking, but it is not used in GP clinics and has not been tested to see if it is effective.
What are we doing?
Before running a large study to see if Active 10 works, we need to run a small study to check that a bigger study will run smoothly. We will ask 80 older adults who do not move enough to join the study at their NHS health-check. Half of the adults will be given the Active 10 app for three months. The other half will not be given anything. We will check that each step of the study can be completed (for example, ensuring that we get enough people to join). If adults have problems with any part of the study we will propose changes.
How are we working with communities, services and organisations?
We have a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group of 10 diverse older adults who have and continue to inform the research through co-design and co-production.
What will the impact and benefits of this research be?
Local authorities already spend around £48 million annually on NHS Health Checks. Seeking to utilise this missed opportunity for physical activity promotion may increase the overall cost‑effectiveness of Health Checks by linking them with scalable digital physical activity interventions. If Active 10 is not effective, then the money currently spent on it might be better directed toward an alternative intervention. If it is effective and the NHS is already investing in it, then not integrating it into existing clinical pathways means the NHS is missing an opportunity to increase its impact on a greater number of people who could benefit.
If this project leads us to deem an Randomised Control Trial (RCT) testing Active 10 feasible, and we are able to progress to a trial that shows Active 10 is effective, this could support its integration into NHS systems. Such a trial would provide Active 10 with the evidence base and exposure needed for it to be taken to policymakers and ICBs and integrated into national and local pathways.
What do we have planned for knowledge mobilisation and implementation?
With the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group, we will design a dissemination plan. In particular, this will involve producing an email/mailed newsletter, and hosting dissemination events with PPI group members in attendance. We will utilise a Media Engagement Officer to formulate a briefing, that will be disseminated to media outlets/social media. We will also disseminate my findings to commissioning groups and to other key stakeholders (e.g. Age UK and Dementia UK), who will disseminate further to their users.
Related papers, outputs and resources
Who is involved?
- Principal Investigator: Dr Dharani Yerrakalva, University of Cambridge
- Co-Principal Investigator: Professor Simon Griffin, University of Cambridge
- Co-Principal Investigator: Professor Robbie Duschinsky, University of Cambridge
- Dr Soren Brage, University College London and Department of Health & Social Care
Get in contact
Email Dr Dharani Yerrakalva at dy255@cam.ac.uk.
