Question

(A). How do the 3 NICE recommendations from 2014 regarding exercise-referral differ from the corresponding recommendations issued by NICE in 2006?

(B). Define the term ‘translational research’, and use your understanding of this term to comment on the ongoing debate (as exemplified by the NICE recommendations mentioned above) regarding the efficacy of exercise-referral in clinical/public health settings.

Answer 1

A] NICE recommendations from 2014 made stricter rules for exercise referral taking into consideration the fact that physical activity has a range of positive health benefits. In the new recommendations the key points were-

*Funding for exercise referral schemes for people who are sedentary or inactivity but otherwise healthy. Primary care practitioners should also not refer apparently healthy people for exercise schemes even if they lead a sedentary or inactive life.

* Funding of exercise referral schemes for people who are inactive or sedentary but have existing health issues or other factors can be done. Primary health care officials should only recommend exercises if they do not interfere adversely with their health conditions.

* The third recommendation of 2006 was removed.

B] Translational research is a term used to describe research done by applying knowledge from basic biology, clinical trials to developing techniques and tools that can be applied to improve basic medical treatment procedures.

Translational research focuses specifically to improve health outcomes.

It is commonly observed that people are not open to change in their existing lifestyles. Referral programs help to make people set goals, develop action plans to change health conditions. The effectivenice of the referral program should be assed on both, the size of the effect as well as the duration of the effect. Then only the real benefits of the exercise referral programs can be judged and the side effects, if any, can be scrutinized.