Staff profile

Professor Andy Pringle


Professor in Physical Activity and Health Intervention Research Lead for the Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Research Centre

Andy Pringle whilst doing his field work. In a forest path, with his bike

Department

School of Human Sciences

Research centre

Human Sciences Research Centre

ORCiD ID

0000-0003-0385-0871

Campus

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Email

A.Pringle@derby.ac.uk

About

I am a Professor of Physical Activity and Health Intervention. I also Lead for the Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Research Centre. I am the Research lead in the School of Sport and Exercise Science. 

I am a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health and a NICE Guidelines Implementation Expert. I was involved in the 2019 Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines. I was a member of the UK Expert Committee for Communications that informs the four UK CMOs on communication priorities for physical activity. I also worked on the NICE Guidelines for Exercise Referral 2014 and Walking and Cycling (Exceptional Update, 2018). I was appointed as an 'expert' in physical activity and older people. In 2023 I was appointed a 'Topic Expert' on the 'Prioritization' of the NICE Physical Activity Guidance. I am also a member of the Sport England National Evaluation Learning Partner Expert Reference Group, 2022. I am trained in Intervention Mapping techniques in public health from the University of Maastricht.

My research investigates the impact and implementation of physical activity interventions and is aligned with the University's Biomedical Clinical Science Academic Theme. My work follows three programmes of research. Firstly, the role of healthcare professionals in physical activity promotion, where I have conducted collaborative research on the role of doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists in delivering physical activity guidance and advice. How prepared are healthcare professionals for delivering physical activity guidance to those with diabetes? A formative evaluation | BMC Health Services Research | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)

Secondly, the impact and implementation of physical activity and health improvement interventions. I have led several major multi-site national evaluations including 'Premier League Health', a £1.6m National Evaluation of men's health improvement delivered in 16 Premier League Clubs Health improvement for men and hard-to-engage-men delivered in English Premier League football clubs | Health Education Research | Oxford Academic (oup.com) and undertook research auditing health improvement interventions delivered across the English Investigating the delivery of health improvement interventions through professional football club community trusts-strengths and challenges - ScienceDirect and Spanish Football Leagues. I also led the £3.2m National Evaluation of the Local Exercise Pilots for the Department of Health and Sport England across ten pilot sites.  

Finally, I work with collaborators Dr Nicky Kime and Dr Stephen Zwolinsky evaluating interventions aimed at managing Diabetes. They have evaluated the delivery of Digibete resources and the Digibete App for helping families and healthcare professionals manage type 1 diabetes and also evaluated NHS health services aimed at managing type 1 diabetes in children and young people. Research outputs from published research and evaluation can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3390/children10121933 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2022.100272  https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyy028

I have authored over 100 peer-review research outputs and further information on his research outputs can be found on my Google Scholar. Further information on my research journey can be found through the university's research showcase.

Research interests

Recent publications

A full list of current publications can be found here: ‪Professor Andy Pringle‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬

Selected Publications: 

National Public Health Guidance:

Book Chapters

Special Issue Collections and Topic Collections

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Experience in industry

I was a Health Promotion Specialist working in the NHS in the North East of England between 1992-1996. I had responsibility for physical activity promotion, NHS and Community Settings. I have experience in planning, implementing and evaluating interventions, needs analysis and partnership working. I am also a Trustee at Notts County Foundation with responsibility for Research, Impact and Evaluation. A number of my evaluations including those with NCF have been published - please see publications below:

In the media

International experience

I am trained in Intervention Mapping techniques in public health from the University of Maastricht. I have attended and presented my research at over 20 international research meetings.

Teaching responsibilities

I have 10 PhD completions, by traditional and the published works route and I currently supervise PhD students who are undertaking novel investigations into the impact and implementation of physical activity interventions. Currently, I supervise PhD students at several institutions on topics such as intervention mapping and physical activity, physical activity and dementia, the role of healthcare professionals and physical activity promotion and physical activity and children. I have also examined 16 Postgraduate Research students, including 14 PhDs including several international PhD students and PhDs by published works. I have supported over 20 mock viva examinations. Please do contact me if you are interested in doing a PhD or if you require an external examiner for your research student. Please email me at: a.pringle@derby.ac.uk

International Experience

I have studied Intervention Mapping in Public Health and Project Management in the Netherlands and presented research at a number of international meetings. I have reviewed for a number of international peer review journals and funding bodies.

In the media

Promotion of work via TV, social media and other media.

Examples of media are listed below:

Recent Publications

A full list of my publications can be found on Google Scholar

Recent Publications 23-24

  • Vishnubala, D., Iqbal, A., Marino, K., Whatmough, S., Barker, R., Salman, D., Bazira, P., Finn, G., Pringle, A. and Nykjaer, C., (2023). UK Doctors Delivering Physical Activity Advice: What Are the Challenges and Possible Solutions? A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), p.12030. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912030 
  • Zhang, S., Roscoe, C. and Pringle, A., (2023). Self-Compassion and Physical Activity: The Underpinning Role of Psychological Distress and Barrier Self-Efficacy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), p.1480. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021480 
  • Vishnubala, D., Iqbal, A., Marino, K., Pandya, T., Salman, D., Pringle, A., Nykjaer, C., Bazira, P., Eastwood, D. and Finn, G., (2023). Creating a sport and exercise medicine undergraduate syllabus: a delphi study. BMC Medical Education, 23(1), p.179
  • Stead, A., Vishnubala, D., Marino, K.R., Iqbal, A., Pringle, A. and Nykjaer, C., (2023). UK physiotherapists delivering physical activity advice: what are the challenges and possible solutions? A qualitative study. BMJ open, 13(4), p.e069372 
  • Dobell, A.P., Faghy, M.A., Pringle, A. and Roscoe, C.M., (2023). Improving Fundamental Movement Skills during Early Childhood: An Intervention Mapping Approach. Children, 10(6), p.1004
  • James, J., Pringle, A., Mourton, S. and Roscoe, C.M., (2023). The Effects of Physical Activity on Academic Performance in School-Aged Children: A Systematic Review. Children, 10(6), p.1019. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10061019 
  • Flynn, R.J., Pringle, A. and Roscoe, C.M., (2023). Direct parent engagement to improve fundamental movement skills in children: a systematic review. Children, 10(7), p.1247. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071247   
  • Raghavan, A., Vishnubala, D., Iqbal, A., Hunter, R., Marino, K., Eastwood, D., Nykjaer, C. and Pringle, A., (2023). UK Nurses Delivering Physical Activity Advice: What Are the Challenges and Possible Solutions? A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(23), p.7113. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/23/7113   
  • Eastwood, D., Varney, J., Pringle, A. and Vishnubala, D., (2023). Physical Activity Clinical Champions: a peer-to-peer physical activity education programme in England. British journal of sports medicine. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-107269 
  • Kime, N., Zwolinsky, S. and Pringle, A., (2023). Evaluation of the DigiBete App, a Self-Management App for Type 1 Diabetes: Experiences of Young People, Families, and Healthcare Professionals. Children, 10(12), p.1933. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10121933 
  • Sides, N., Pringle, A. and Newson, L., (2024). The lived experience of weight loss maintenance in young people. Health Expectations, 27(1), p.e13955.  https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13955  
  • Roscoe, C.M.P.; Taylor, N.; Weir, N.; Flynn, R.J.; Pringle, A. (2024) Impact and Implementation of an Early Years Fundamental Motor Skills Intervention for Children 4–5 Years. Children, 11, 416. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11040416.
  • Mitra, M., Marino, K., Vishnubala, D., Pringle, A., Nykjaer, K., UK midwives delivering physical activity advice; what are the challenges and possible solutions? Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, 2024 6 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1369534/full
  • National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, Jebb, S., Lloyd, A., Sowden, A., Packham, C., Rothschild, J., Yardley, L. Jofre Bonet, M., Prevost, T., Pringle, A., McNish, E., Ward, M., Jepson, R., Sutton, S., Bostock, S, Morris, S., (2014). NICE Guidance on promoting physical activity through exercise referral. London, NICE
  • Mutrie, N., Standage, M., Pringle, A., Laventure, R., Smith, L., Strain, T., Kelly, P., Dall, P., Milton, K., Chalkley, A., College, N., Foster, C., and Banfield, K., (2018). Expert Working Group Working Paper Communication and Surveillance.UK physical activity guidelines: developing options for future communication and surveillance. University of Bristol [Named contributor, Annex B] Department of Health (2019). UK Chief Medical Officers Physical Activity Guidelines
  • Appointed to update NICE Guidelines Surveillance, Exceptional Review of PH41 NICE Guidelines Physical Activity, Walking and Cycling.* https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph41/resources/2019-exceptional-surveillance-of-physical-activity-walking-and-cycling-nice-guideline-ph41-6715160461/chapter/Overview-of-2019-surveillance-methods?tab=evidence
  • Reappointed to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence as ‘NICE Guidelines Implementation Expert’, 2022
  • Member of the Expert Reference Group for the National Evaluation Learning Partner for the Sport England Local Delivery Pilots, 2022
  • NICE Topic Expert in Physical Activity to work on the Prioritization of the NICE Physical Activity Guidance. The aim of priority classification is not to assess the ‘importance’ of a specific topic area, but to allow NICE to focus limited resources on topic areas where continuous monitoring of new evidence to enable timely update of recommendations that add value in improving health and care outcomes, 2023
  • Member of the Advisory Group for My First 1000 Day Project.   My First 1000 Days focuses on giving children in the Leeds area the best possible start in life, 2023. https://myfirst1000days.co.uk/project-governance/

McKenna, J., and Pringle, A., (2008). ‘Adherence’. In D., Kirk., C., Cooke, A., Flintoff and J., McKenna. Ed., Key Concepts in Sport and Exercise Sciences. London: Sage, pp.96-98

Rutherford Z., Seymore-Smith, S., Matthews, C., Wilcox J., Gough, B., Parnell, D., and Pringle, A., (2015). The effect of a Football in the Community delivered weight loss programme on over 35-year-old men and women’s cardiovascular risk factors. Soccer and Society. In D., Parnell and D., Richardson, Ed., Football and Society, London, Taylor and Francis, pp.51-69

Robertson S., Zwolinsky S., Pringle, A., McKenna, J., Smith A., White A., (2015). It is fun, fitness and football really’: A process evaluation of a football-based health intervention for men. In R.J., Schinke, K., McGannon, K., and, B., Smith, Ed., Community Based Research in Sport, Exercise and Health Science, London, Routledge, pp.19-39

Pringle, A., Zwolinsky, S., Hargreaves, J., Lozano, L., and McKenna, J., (2015). Assessing the impact of football-based health improvement programmes: Stay onside, avoid own goals, and bag the evaluation net. In D., Parnell, and D., Richardson, Ed., Football and Society, London, Taylor and Francis, pp.70-87

Pringle, A., Parnell, D., Zwolinsky, S., Hargreaves, J., McKenna, J., (2015). Effect of a health improvement programme for older adults delivered in/by Burton Albion FC. In D., Parnell and D., Richardson, Ed., Football and Society, London, Taylor and Francis, pp.112-118

Zwolinsky, S., McKenna, J., Parnell and Pringle, A. (2016). Can the English Premier League Funding for PE and School Sport Achieve its aims? In D., Parnell, and A., Pringle, Ed., Football and Health Improvement: An Emergent Field. London, Routledge, pp.242-245

Zwolinsky, S., McKenna, J., and Pringle, A., (2016). How can the health system benefit from increasing participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity? In: D., Conrad, and A., White, Ed., Sports-Based Health Interventions: Case Studies from Around the World. Springer, London, pp.29-52

Zwolinsky, S., McKenna, J., Pringle, A., Daly-Smith, A., Robertson, S., and White, A., (2016). Supporting lifestyle risk reduction: promoting men’s health through professional football. In D., Parnell, and A., Pringle, Ed., Football and Health Improvement: An Emergent Field. London, Routledge, pp. 183-185

Pringle, A. and Parnell, D., (2017). Football and health: An emerging field. In Parnell, D., and Pringle, A., Ed., Football and Health: An Emergent Field. London, Routledge, pp.1-4

Pringle, A., and Zwolinsky, S., (2017). Older adults, physical activity, and public health. In Parnell, D., and Krustrup, P., Ed., Sport and Health: Exploring the Current State of Play, London. Routledge, pp.84-110

Martin, A., Morgan, S., Parnell, D., Philpott, M., Pringle, A., Rigby, M., Taylor, A. and Topham, J., (2017). A perspective from key stakeholders on football and health improvement. In Parnell, D., and Pringle, A., Ed., Football and Health: An Emergent Field. London, Routledge, pp. 5-12

Curran, K., Rosenbaum, S., Parnell, D., Stubbs, B., Pringle. A. and Hargreaves, J., (2017). Tackling the burden of poor mental health: the role of professional football clubs. In M., Phillpott, K.., Curran, and D., Parnell., Ed., Healthy Stadia: An Insight from Policy to Practice. London, Routledge, pp.81-90

Lozano-Sufrategui, L., Pringle, A., Carless, D. and McKenna, J., (2017). ‘A critical exploration of older men’s experiences of a weight management programme delivered through a Healthy Stadia project. In M., Phillpott, K., Curran, and D., Parnell., Ed., Healthy Stadia: An Insight from Policy to Practice. London, Routledge, pp.103-115

Pringle, A., Parnell, D., Rutherford, Z., McKenna, J., Zwolinsky, S. and Hargreaves, J., (2018). Sustaining health improvement activities delivered in English professional football clubs using evaluation: A short communication. In C., Porter, A., Kiernan, and A., May, Ed., Football and Sustainability. Taylor and Francis, pp. 59-69

Pringle, A., McKenna, J., and Zwolinsky, S., (2018) Linking physical activity and health evaluation to policy: Lessons from UK evaluations. In J Piggin, L., Mansfield, and M., Weed., Ed., The Routledge Handbook of Physical Activity Policy and Practice. London, Taylor and Francis, pp.425-440

Pringle, A., Kime, N., Lozano, L. and Zwolinksy, S., (2020). Evaluating interventions. In D., Hackfort, and R., Schinke, Ed., The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Volume 2: Applied and Practical Measures. London, Routledge, pp.219-316

Pringle, A., Zwolinsky, S and Feavers, J., (2022). Engaging hard-to-reach populations. In A., Scott, and D., Broom., Ed., The Routledge International Handbook of Exercise Referral. London, Routledge

Parnell, D and Pringle, A., (2016). Football and Health Improvement: An Emergent Field, Ed. London, Taylor and Francis, pp.1-99