“Looking Forward”: a qualitative evaluation of a physical activity program for middle-aged and older adults with serious mental illness

ABSTRACTObjectives:Older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) often have poor physical health in addition to serious mental health issues. Sustained engagement in a group physical activity program may provide necessary physical and mental health benefits. The purpose of this report is to describe participants’ feedback about a video game-based group physical activity program using the Kinect for Xbox 360 game system (Microsoft, Redmond, WA). In particular, we wanted to understand what worked about the program, what was not ideal, and how it impacted their lives.Design:Semi-structured interviews were collected and analyzed with grounded theory methodology.Setting:Mental health facility.Participants:Sixteen older adults with SMI.Measurements:Participants played an active video game for 50-minute sessions, three times a week for 10 weeks. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 participants upon completion of the program.Results:Participants expressed enthusiasm for the physical activity program, indicating it was an activity that they looked forward to doing. The results of the study provide insight into how the program may be implemented into practice at mental health facilities. Three implementation to practice categories were identified: (1) programmatic considerations, such as when to hold the groups and where; (2) the critical importance of staff involvement; and (3) harnessing patients’ interest in the program.Conclusion:Our results suggest that engagement in an intense video game-based group physical activity program has a positive impact on participants’ overall health. The group atmosphere, staff involvement, availability of the program at a mental health facility, and health benefits were critical.

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A Lifestyle Physical Activity Program for Persons With Serious Mental Illness

Psychiatric Services ◽

10.1176/appi.ps.56.3.354 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 354-354 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Caroline R. Richardson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Physical Activity Program ◽

Activity Program ◽

Lifestyle Physical Activity

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Preferences of people with mental illness for engaging in exercise programs under COVID-19 restrictions

Australasian Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1039856220975299 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 103985622097529

Author(s):

Justin J Chapman ◽

Emily Hielscher ◽

Sue Patterson ◽

Nicola Reavley ◽

Wendy J Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Physical Activity Program ◽

Exercise Programs ◽

Activity Program ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

The Impact

Objectives: People with mental illness may be vulnerable to decline in mental health and reduced physical activity because of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. The aim of this study was to inform the design of physical activity interventions for implementation under these conditions to improve/maintain well-being and physical activity in this population. Methods: People with mental illness who had participated in a physical activity program prior to the pandemic were invited to complete a survey about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and physical activity and their preferences for engaging in a physical activity program under pandemic-related restrictions. Results: More than half the 59 respondents reported worse mental health and lower physical activity during the pandemic. The preferred format for a physical activity program was one-on-one exercise instruction in-person in a park. Program components endorsed as helpful included incentivization, provision of exercise equipment and fitness devices, and daily exercise programs. About a third of the participants reported limitations in using technology for a physical activity program. Conclusions: In-person exercise support is preferred by people with mental illnesses during pandemic-related restrictions. Enablement strategies such as providing equipment and self-monitoring devices should be utilized; assistance may be needed to incorporate the use of technology in exercise programs.

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Effects of a DVD-delivered randomized controlled physical activity intervention on functional health in cancer survivors

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08608-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth A. Salerno ◽

Neha P. Gothe ◽

Jason Fanning ◽

Lindsay L. Peterson ◽

Graham A. Colditz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Physical Activity Program ◽

Functional Health ◽

Link Type ◽

Time Interaction ◽

Activity Program ◽

Group Time

Abstract Background Supervised physical activity interventions improve functional health during cancer survivorship, but remain costly and inaccessible for many. We previously reported on the benefits of a DVD-delivered physical activity program (FlexToBa™) in older adults. This is a secondary analysis of the intervention effects among cancer survivors in the original sample. Methods Low active, older adults who self-reported a history of cancer (N = 46; M time since diagnosis = 10.7 ± 9.4 years) participated in a 6-month, home-based physical activity intervention. Participants were randomized to either the DVD-delivered physical activity program focused on flexibility, toning, and balance (FlexToBa™; n = 22) or an attentional control condition (n = 24). Physical function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at baseline, end of intervention, and at 12 and 24 months after baseline. Results Repeated measures linear mixed models indicated a significant group*time interaction for the SPPB total score (β = − 1.14, p = 0.048), driven by improved function from baseline to six months in the FlexToBa™ group. The intervention group also had improved balance (β = − 0.56, p = 0.041) compared with controls. Similar trends emerged for the SPPB total score during follow-up; the group*time interaction from 0 to 12 months approached significance (β = − 0.97, p = 0.089) and was significant from 0 to 24 months (β = − 1.84, p = 0.012). No significant interactions emerged for other outcomes (ps > 0.11). Conclusions A DVD-delivered physical activity intervention designed for cancer-free older adults was capable of eliciting and maintaining clinically meaningful functional improvements in a subgroup of cancer survivors, with similar effects to the original full sample. These findings inform the dissemination of evidence-based physical activity programs during survivorship. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT01030419. Registered 11 December 2009

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