Recruitment

“Don’t wait for them to come to you, you go to them”. A qualitative study of recruitment approaches in community based walking programmes in the UK
Anne Matthews (Corresponding author) Dr Anne Matthews, British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group (BHFHPRG), Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, England, OX3 7LT. Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail] Graham Brennan Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde Paul Kelly, British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group, Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom Chloe McAdam SPARColl, Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde Nanette Mutrie Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde Charles Foster, British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group, Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Abstract
Background: This study aimed to examine the experiences of walking promotion professionals on the range and effectiveness of recruitment strategies used within community based walking programmes within the United Kingdom. Methods: Two researchers recruited and conducted semi-structured interviews with managers and project co-ordinators of community based walking programmes, across the UK, using a purposive sampling frame. Three case studies were also conducted with programmes aiming to recruit priority groups and also demonstrated innovative recruitment methods. Data analysis adopted an approach using analytic induction. Results: Twenty eight interviews were conducted, with community projects targeting participants by age, physical activity status, socio-demographic characteristics (i.e. ethnic group) or by health status. Two types of programmes were identified: those with explicit health aims and those without. Programme aims which require targeting of specific groups adopt more specific

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