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The NPRI Walk-2-Quit national research project: introduction, aims and methods
Emma S. Everson, Research Fellow, School of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Exeter

Abstract
It is now established that brief bouts of exercise can alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings among temporarily abstaining smokers (Taylor, Ussher & Faulkner, 2007), but less is known about how to effectively promote exercise in smoking cessation programmes (Taylor & Ussher, 2005). Walk-2-Quit is a National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI) funded research project aimed at investigating the feasibility of physical activity promotion within NHS stop smoking clinics. Phase 1 (starting September 2006) has involved administering surveys on physical activity beliefs and experiences (in general and connected with quitting smoking) with smoking cessation advisors and quitters within the context of group clinics. Some advisors have been interviewed to obtain examples of best practice for promoting physical activity in smoking cessation clinics. Data will be presented on the initial findings. Phase 2 of the project aims to test the feasibility, acceptability !
and effects of a physical activity promotion intervention within the usual group clinic setting within the Plymouth Stop Smoking Service. Quit rates, quit parameters (e.g., stage of change for quitting smoking), physical activity rates and physical activity parameters (e.g., stage of change for regular physical activity, attitudes towards physical activity) pre- and post-intervention will be compared with those of matched control clinics (that do not receive the intervention). The findings will have important implications for the delivery of smoking cessation services, and the training of advisors.

We are grateful for funding (MRC Grant ID: 75355) for research from collaborators in the National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI), namely: British Heart Foundation; Cancer Research UK; Department of Health; Diabetes UK; Economic and Social Research Council; Medical Research Council; National Cancer Research Institute; Research and Development Office for the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services; Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Executive Health Department; Welsh Assembly Government

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Biography
Dr Emma Everson was recently awarded her PhD for research on the acute effects of exercise on cigarette cravings and exercise determinants among adolescents and young adults, at Sheffield Hallam University. She is currently a Research Fellow for the NPRI funded Walk-2-Quit project, led by Drs Adrian Taylor and Michael Ussher. Dr Adrian Taylor is an Associate Professor in Exercise and Health Psychology, in the School of Sport & Health Sciences, at the University of Exeter. He has published 11 peer reviewed journal articles on the role of exercise as an aid to smoking cessation, in esteemed journals such as Psychopharmacology, Addiction, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Addictive Behaviours, and Patient Education and Counselling. His broader research focus is on the mental health benefits of exercise, and he is currently involved in 3 exercise trials, and ongoing acute exercise and smoking studies. Dr Michael Ussher is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Community Health Sciences at St George’s, University of London. He led the first UK trial on the effects of exercise on smoking cessation for his PhD, completing in 2001. Since then he has been involved in several studies around the world on the role of exercise in smoking cessation. He is author of the Cochrane Review on Exercise and Smoking Cessation and has published numerous research papers in esteemed scientific journals such as Psychopharmacology, Addiction, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, and Addictive Behaviours.

Emma S. Everson
School of Sport & Health Sciences
University of Exeter, Heavitree Road
Exeter
EX1 2LU

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