Targeting nonactive students

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Targeting non-active students UCD Get In
Gear Programme
Carmel Kissane, MA University College Dublin
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Background
Obesity
Cardiovascular Disease
Osteoporosis
Low Levels of Physical Activity
Diabetes
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The Irish Situation
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)
An Analysis of a Lifetime of Irish Sport (2008)?
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Genesis of UCD project

• Preliminary survey carried out by UCD Sport in
  Dec. 2005 identified barriers to sport
  participation by UCD students

Time Constraints
Barriers
Too Competitive
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Formation of Get in Gear
UCD School of Physiotherapy Performance Science
UCD Sport
Brainstorming
Inactive Students
Aims of the Programme
Screening
Pilot Study
Design of Get in Gear Programme
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Aims of Get in Gear

• Students normally unengaged in PA
• UCD as a healthy community
• Screen participants
• Assess baseline physiological fitness and
  re-evaluate
• Assess behavioral changes

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Progress of Get in Gear Programme
Seven week programme run in October and January
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VP for Students
College Newspapers
E-Mail
Lectures
Student Advisers
Promotion Recruitment
Health Promotion Committee
Flyers, brochures, posters
Calendar
Orientation Week
Website
www.ucd.ie/getingear
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Cost of Programme for Students

• Cost 40 per student
• What do the Students get for 40?
• An individual health evaluation
• Access to a range of specified Get in Gear
  classes
• Five guest passes to Fitness Centre
• Free access to all UCD Sports Centre facilities
  (tennis, squash, table tennis)
• Free rental of sports equipment
• Health promotion material

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Health Evaluation

• PAR-Q questionnaire heart condition, chest
  pain, dizziness, bone or joint problems,
  medications for heart or blood pressure or other
  reasons
• Consent
• Health Survey
• Fitness Test

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Fitness Test

• Resting heart rate and blood pressure
• Height, weight, BMI
• Lung function Peak Flow
• Grip Strength
• Vertical Jump
• Body Fat
• Flexibility
• Cardiovascular Fitness heart rate response to
  exercise (Queens College Step Test)

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Sample of Get in Gear Classes

• Boxercise
• Tone n Flex
• Capoeira
• Rock Climbing for Beginners
• Introductory Trampoline
• Yoga Pilates
• Circuits
• Aerobics

• Learn to Row
• Archery for Beginners
• Wheelchair Basketball
• Track Your Fitness
• Lengthen Stretch
• Salsa
• Zumba
• 20-20-20
• Learn to Play Squash

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Health Promotion Material

• Drop-In Sessions
• Motivational Techniques logbooks, weekly
  e-mails
• Health Benefits for each class

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Results Analyzed from SF-12Health Survey (Jan.
2008)

• Self Reported Health Outcomes

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Qualitative Feedback from January 2008 Programme
Benefits of GIG
Enjoyed Health evaluation helped motivate
me to get fit
Brilliant, Fun, Classes, Instructors
Cheap price and fun way to get fit
Well timetabled to fit into student
lifestyle
Wide range of activities great motivation to
help get fit
Could sleep and concentrate much better
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Qualitative Feedback from January 2008 Programme
Attitudes
Exercise can now be part of my busy life
Got over the fear of being too unfit to
exercise
Small amounts of exercise are enough to get
started
Made me more conscious of living a balanced
lifestyle
Im now inclined to try out new activities
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Qualitative Feedback from January 2008 Programme
Lifestyle Changes
Joined the UCD Trampoline Club after trying
it for the first time in the GIG programme
Joined the aerobics class walk more now
than before I took part in GIG
Make sure I now eat healthier exercise
regularly
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Quantitative Feedback on Effects of Get in Gear
Programme (Jan. 2008)
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Plans for October 2009

• UCD Institute of Food and Health coming on board
  under the guidance of Prof. Mike Gibney
• Option to have a Mentor for duration of the
  programme
• Introduce other UCD Clubs Lacrosse, Ultimate
  Frisbee into the programme
• Option for regulars to switch to new Additional
  Programme - UCD Boot Camp

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Conclusions

• Get in Gear achieved its aims to promote exercise
  and healthy lifestyle for students normally
  unengaged in physical activity
• Change in attitude, behaviour, and lifestyle
  reported by the participants
• UCD committed to offering this programme
  bi-annually for students
• Strong interest from other universities in Europe
  in the UCD Get in Gear
• programme

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• THANK YOU
• FOR YOUR ATTENTION