PAHRC research

Research frameworks

We know the health risks of inactivity and the rise in inactivity across the population. We know much less about how to successfully change behaviours and create more active lifestyles across all ages.

Our main focus is to develop, test and implement ways to encourage people of all ages to sit less and walk more. We are interested in all segments of the population, but our current priorities reflect the Scottish Government’s target groups of adolescent girls and older adults.

Our research planning follows established frameworks, including:

• acknowledgement of the social-ecological framework that influences health
• the MRC guidance on developing and evaluating complex interventions
• the ‘seven investments that work,’ recommended by the Toronto Charter for Physical Activity

Research themes

Across the settings suggested by the ‘seven investments that work’ statement and the Scottish Government’s current target priorities of older adults and adolescent girls, there are a number of key themes that we are currently involved with:

• evaluation of physical activity/sedentary behaviour interventions
• reducing sedentary time
• physical activity in children and adolescent girls
• physical activity for people with medical conditions
• physical activity messaging and communication
• the promotion of walking
• the role of the environment in physical activity promotion

In 2024, PAHRC, together with Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP) (in the School of Health in Social Science) and Edinburgh University Business School, was awarded funding by NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) to set up PHIRST Elevate. 

PHIRST (Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams) was launched in 2020 and focuses on building evaluation capacity in local governments across the UK. Apart from PHIRST Elevate, there are currently eight PHIRST teams across the country with two additional teams starting in summer 2025. Elevate is the only PHIRST team to be based entirely in Scotland.

The role of the PHIRST teams is to evaluate public health interventions within local authorities across the UK. The interventions can be related to any stage of life from pre-birth (e.g. pregnancy care) to older adults (e.g. falls prevention). They can focus on helping a community, individuals or groups living with a particular condition or suffering particular challenges.

The aim of these evaluations is for expert researchers to look in depth at how an intervention is working and support the local authority with recommendations about how they can improve or move forward with the intervention in future. This allows the local authority to access speciality research skills and form a partnership with the team in gaining knowledge about their intervention, as well as experience in evaluation. Each PHIRST team will also help with mobilising the knowledge gained during the evaluation to maximise impact. 

Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP)

Edinburgh University Business School

NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)

Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams

PHIRST Elevate

Current Evaluations

We are currently working on three evaluations:

• Southwark Council’s Integrated Healthy Lifestyle Service for Weight Management (commenced May 2024)
• Horden Together Partnership – Durham County Council (commenced January 2025) 
• Leeds Mindful Employer Network  – Leed City Council  (commenced January 2025)

We will also be working on 

• Best Start for Baby – London Borough of Camden (due to commence May 2025)

The PHIRST Elevate team

Integrated Healthy Lifestyle Service Southwark Council: Evaluability Assessment Report – September 2024