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Editorial
Physical Activity Clinical Champions: a peer-to-peer physical activity education programme in England
  1. David Eastwood1,
  2. Justin Varney2,
  3. Andy Pringle3,
  4. Dane Vishnubala1,4
  1. 1 Moving Healthcare Professionals Programme, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, London, UK
  2. 2 Director of Public Health, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
  3. 3 Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
  4. 4 School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr David Eastwood, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, London, UK; dr.david.eastwood{at}gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-107269

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    Background

    Physical inactivity is a key risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide.1 Targeted interventions aim to increase activity participation, with healthcare professionals (HCPs) having a vital role in its promotion.2 3 The England-based Physical Activity Clinical Champion (PACC) Programme is a global example of a professional development programme designed to harness HCPs influence. This editorial reflects its history, with insights into the development, implementation and impact from some key individuals who shaped it.

    Development

    The PACC programme is a peer-to-peer educational programme aimed at HCPs. It forms part of the moving healthcare professionals’ programme, led by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and funded by Sport England.4 Established in 2014, it aims to encourage and empower HCPs to integrate physical activity (PA) advice within clinical practice. It principally involves an 1–3-hour-length education session, using a standardised slide set, delivered to HCPs by a PACC (usually based in the region). The session is free to hosting institutions with champions paid per sessional delivery of training by OHID.

    The programme includes a manager, two administrators and three clinical leads (one each for doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals). Champions undergo open recruitment and a structured, evidence-based training programme delivered by the clinical leads (figure 1). Once trained, a …

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @DrDaveEastwood

    • Contributors DV and DE conceived the presented idea. DE wrote the original manuscript. JV, AP and DV reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors discussed the format and contributed to the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests DE is employed as a PACC. DV is employed as medic lead for the PACC programme.

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.