scholarly journals Impact of a Knowledge Translation Intervention on Physical Activity and Mobility in Older Adults (the Move4Age Study): Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/15125 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. e15125
Author(s):  
Sarah Neil-Sztramko ◽  
Jenna Smith-Turchyn ◽  
Julie Richardson ◽  
Maureen Dobbins

Background The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (the Portal) was launched in 2014 as a knowledge translation (KT) tool to increase access to evidence-based health information. Objective The purpose of this study was to understand if and how dissemination of mobility information through the Portal impacts physical activity (PA) in older adults. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, participants (n=510) were assigned to a 12-week mobility-focused KT intervention or self-serve control group. The intervention included weekly email alerts and a study-specific social media hashtag linking to mobility-focused Portal materials. The control group was able to access the Portal on their own but did not receive targeted KT strategies. Participants completed questionnaires (including the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity to quantify PA) at baseline, end of the study, and 3-month follow-up. Results Participants were predominantly female (430/510, 84.3%), mean age 64.7 years, with no baseline differences between groups. Over half (277/510, 54.3%) of the participants were classified as “active” at baseline. There was no significant between-group difference in the PA category. Overall, both groups increased their PA with improvements maintained at 3-month follow-up (P<.001). In planned subgroup analyses, the KT intervention had a significant effect for those with poor or fair baseline self-rated health (P=.03). Conclusions No differences were found between those who received the targeted intervention and a control group with self-serve access to the Portal, except in subgroups with low self-rated health. Both groups did report increases in PA that were sustained beyond participation in a research study. Findings suggest that different KT strategies may be needed for different types of users, with more intense interventions being most impactful for certain groups (ie, those with lower self-rated health). Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02947230; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02947230

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Neil-Sztramko ◽  
Jenna Smith-Turchyn ◽  
Julie Richardson ◽  
Maureen Dobbins

BACKGROUND The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (the Portal) was launched in 2014 as a knowledge translation (KT) tool to increase access to evidence-based health information. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to understand if and how dissemination of mobility information through the Portal impacts physical activity (PA) in older adults. METHODS In this randomized controlled trial, participants (n=510) were assigned to a 12-week mobility-focused KT intervention or self-serve control group. The intervention included weekly email alerts and a study-specific social media hashtag linking to mobility-focused Portal materials. The control group was able to access the Portal on their own but did not receive targeted KT strategies. Participants completed questionnaires (including the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity to quantify PA) at baseline, end of the study, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS Participants were predominantly female (430/510, 84.3%), mean age 64.7 years, with no baseline differences between groups. Over half (277/510, 54.3%) of the participants were classified as “active” at baseline. There was no significant between-group difference in the PA category. Overall, both groups increased their PA with improvements maintained at 3-month follow-up (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). In planned subgroup analyses, the KT intervention had a significant effect for those with poor or fair baseline self-rated health (<i>P</i>=.03). CONCLUSIONS No differences were found between those who received the targeted intervention and a control group with self-serve access to the Portal, except in subgroups with low self-rated health. Both groups did report increases in PA that were sustained beyond participation in a research study. Findings suggest that different KT strategies may be needed for different types of users, with more intense interventions being most impactful for certain groups (ie, those with lower self-rated health). CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02947230; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02947230


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Violetta Krämer ◽  
Nadine Eschrig ◽  
Lena Keinhorst ◽  
Luisa Schöchlin ◽  
Lisa Stephan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Many students in Germany do not meet recommended amounts of physical activity. In order to promote physical activity in students, web-based interventions are increasingly implemented. Yet, data on effectiveness of web-based interventions in university students is low. Our study aims at investigating a web-based intervention for students. The intervention is based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), which discriminates between processes of intention formation (motivational processes) and processes of intention implementation (volitional processes). Primary outcome is change in physical activity; secondary outcomes are motivational and volitional variables as proposed by the HAPA as well as quality of life and depressive symptoms. Methods A two-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT) of parallel design is conducted. Participants are recruited via the internet platform StudiCare (www.studicare.com). After the baseline assessment (t1), participants are randomized to either intervention group (immediate access to web-based intervention) or control group (access only after follow-up assessment). Four weeks later, post-assessment (t2) is performed in both groups followed by a follow-up assessment (t3) 3 months later. Assessments take place online. Main outcome analyses will follow an intention-to-treat principle by including all randomized participants into the analyses. Outcomes will be analysed using a linear mixed model, assuming data are missing at random. The mixed model will include group, time, and the interaction of group and time as fixed effects and participant and university as random effect. Discussion This study is a high-quality RCT with three assessment points and intention-to-treat analysis meeting the state-of-the-art of effectiveness studies. Recruitment covers almost 20 universities in three countries, leading to high external validity. The results of this study will be of great relevance for student health campaigns, as they reflect the effectiveness of self-help interventions for young adults with regard to behaviour change as well as motivational and volitional determinants. From a lifespan perspective, it is important to help students find their way into regular physical activity. Trial registration The German clinical trials register (DRKS) DRKS00016889. Registered on 28 February 2019


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258559
Author(s):  
Tiina Savikangas ◽  
Timo Törmäkangas ◽  
Anna Tirkkonen ◽  
Markku Alen ◽  
Roger A. Fielding ◽  
...  

Background Executive functions underlie self-regulation and are thus important for physical activity and adaptation to new situations. The aim was to investigate, if yearlong physical and cognitive training (PTCT) had greater effects on physical activity among older adults than physical training (PT) alone, and if executive functions predicted physical activity at baseline, after six (6m) and twelve months (12m) of the interventions, one-year post-intervention follow-up and an extended follow-up during COVID-19 lockdown. Methods Data from a single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (PASSWORD-study, ISRCTN52388040) were utilized. Participants were 70–85 years old community-dwelling men and women from Jyväskylä, Finland. PT (n = 159) included supervised resistance, walking and balance training, home-exercises and self-administered moderate activity. PTCT (n = 155) included PT and cognitive training targeting executive functions on a computer program. Physical activity was assessed with a one-item, seven-scale question. Executive functions were assessed with color-word Stroop, Trail Making Test (TMT) B-A and Letter Fluency. Changes in physical activity were modeled with multinomial logistic models and the impact of executive functions on physical activity with latent change score models. Results No significant group-by-time interaction was observed for physical activity (p>0.1). The subjects were likely to select an activity category higher than baseline throughout the study (pooled data: B = 0.720–1.614, p<0.001–0.046). Higher baseline Stroop predicted higher physical activity through all subsequent time-points (pooled data: B = 0.011–0.013, p = 0.015–0.030). Higher baseline TMT B–A predicted higher physical activity at 6m (pooled data: B = 0.007, p = 0.006) and during COVID-19 (B = 0.005, p = 0.030). In the PT group, higher baseline Letter Fluency predicted higher physical activity at 12m (B = -0.028, p = 0.030) and follow-up (B = -0.042, p = 0.002). Conclusions Cognitive training did not have additive effects over physical training alone on physical activity, but multicomponent training and higher executive function at baseline may support adaptation to and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle among older adults.


10.2196/13219 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. e13219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Karel Herman ◽  
Louise Poppe ◽  
Geert Crombez ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
...  

Background The beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) for older adults are well known. However, few older adults reach the health guideline of 150 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Electronic health (eHealth) interventions are effective in increasing PA levels in older adults in the short term but, rarely, intermediate-term effects after a period without the support of a website or an app have been examined. Furthermore, current theory-based interventions focus mainly on preintentional determinants, although postintentional determinants should also be included to increase the likelihood of successful behavior change. Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of the theory-based eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants on both accelerometer-based and self-reported PA levels in older Belgian adults in the short and intermediate term. Methods This study was a randomized controlled trial with three data collection points: baseline (N=72), post (five weeks after baseline; N=65), and follow-up (three months after baseline; N=65). The study took place in Ghent, and older adults (aged ≥65 years) were recruited through a combination of random and convenience sampling. At all the time points, participants were visited by the research team. Self-reported domain-specific PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and accelerometers were used to objectively assess PA. Participants in the intervention group got access to the eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, and used it independently for five consecutive weeks after baseline. MyPlan 2.0 was based on the self-regulatory theory and focused on both pre- and postintentional processes to increase PA. Multilevel mixed-models repeated measures analyses were performed in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Results Significant (borderline) positive intervention effects were found for accelerometer-based MVPA (baseline−follow-up: intervention group +5 min per day and control group −5 min per day; P=.07) and for accelerometer-based total PA (baseline−post: intervention group +20 min per day and control group −24 min per day; P=.05). MyPlan 2.0 was also effective in increasing self-reported PA, mainly in the intermediate term. A positive intermediate-term intervention effect was found for leisure-time vigorous PA (P=.02), moderate household-related PA (P=.01), and moderate PA in the garden (P=.04). Negative intermediate-term intervention effects were found for leisure-time moderate PA (P=.01) and cycling for transport (P=.07). Conclusions The findings suggest that theory-based eHealth interventions focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants have the potential for behavior change in older adults. If future studies including larger samples and long-term follow-up can confirm and clarify these findings, researchers and practitioners should be encouraged to use a self-regulation perspective for eHealth intervention development. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03194334; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03783611.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1047-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Kanai ◽  
Kazuhiro P Izawa ◽  
Miki Kobayashi ◽  
Akira Onishi ◽  
Hiroki Kubo ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate the effect of accelerometer-based feedback on physical activity in hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Acute care hospital. Subjects: A total of 55 patients with ischemic stroke who could walk without assistance were randomly assigned to the intervention group ( n = 27) or the control group ( n = 28). Interventions: At the baseline measurement, patients did not receive accelerometer-based feedback. At follow-up, a physical therapist provided instruction on accelerometer-based feedback, discussed physical activity targets and encouraged the patients to walk more until discharge. Main measures: The average daily number of steps taken was used as the index of daily hospitalized physical activity. Results: The study sample consisted of 48 patients, of whom 23 patients comprised the intervention group and 25 patients comprised the control group. Although there were no significant differences in physical activity values between the two groups at the baseline measurement, the values in the intervention group at follow-up were significantly higher than those in the control group (5180.5 ± 2314.9 vs. 3113.6 ± 1150.9 steps/day, P = 0.0003). The effect size of physical activity values (Cohen’s d = 1.15) at follow-up was large between the two groups. Conclusion: Exercise training combined with accelerometer-based feedback effectively increased physical activity in hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Karel Herman ◽  
Louise Poppe ◽  
Geert Crombez ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) for older adults are well known. However, few older adults reach the health guideline of 150 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Electronic health (eHealth) interventions are effective in increasing PA levels in older adults in the short term but, rarely, intermediate-term effects after a period without the support of a website or an app have been examined. Furthermore, current theory-based interventions focus mainly on preintentional determinants, although postintentional determinants should also be included to increase the likelihood of successful behavior change. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effect of the theory-based eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants on both accelerometer-based and self-reported PA levels in older Belgian adults in the short and intermediate term. METHODS This study was a randomized controlled trial with three data collection points: baseline (N=72), post (five weeks after baseline; N=65), and follow-up (three months after baseline; N=65). The study took place in Ghent, and older adults (aged ≥65 years) were recruited through a combination of random and convenience sampling. At all the time points, participants were visited by the research team. Self-reported domain-specific PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and accelerometers were used to objectively assess PA. Participants in the intervention group got access to the eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, and used it independently for five consecutive weeks after baseline. MyPlan 2.0 was based on the self-regulatory theory and focused on both pre- and postintentional processes to increase PA. Multilevel mixed-models repeated measures analyses were performed in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). RESULTS Significant (borderline) positive intervention effects were found for accelerometer-based MVPA (baseline−follow-up: intervention group +5 min per day and control group −5 min per day; <italic>P</italic>=.07) and for accelerometer-based total PA (baseline−post: intervention group +20 min per day and control group −24 min per day; <italic>P</italic>=.05). MyPlan 2.0 was also effective in increasing self-reported PA, mainly in the intermediate term. A positive intermediate-term intervention effect was found for leisure-time vigorous PA (<italic>P</italic>=.02), moderate household-related PA (<italic>P</italic>=.01), and moderate PA in the garden (<italic>P</italic>=.04). Negative intermediate-term intervention effects were found for leisure-time moderate PA (<italic>P</italic>=.01) and cycling for transport (<italic>P</italic>=.07). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that theory-based eHealth interventions focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants have the potential for behavior change in older adults. If future studies including larger samples and long-term follow-up can confirm and clarify these findings, researchers and practitioners should be encouraged to use a self-regulation perspective for eHealth intervention development. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03194334; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03783611.


2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 470-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredric D. Wolinsky ◽  
Henry Mahncke ◽  
Mark W. Vander Weg ◽  
Rene Martin ◽  
Frederick W. Unverzagt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground: We evaluated the effects of cognitive training on self-rated health at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years post-baseline.Methods: In the ACTIVE (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly) randomized controlled trial, 2,802 older adults (≥65 years) were randomly assigned to memory, reasoning, speed of processing, or no-contact control intervention groups. Complete data were available for 1,804 (64%) of the 2,802 participants at five years. A propensity score model was adjusted for attrition bias. The self-rated health question was coded using the Diehr et al. (2001) transformation (E = 95/VG = 90/G = 80/F = 30/P = 15), and analyzed with change-score regression models.Results: The speed of processing (vs. no-contact control) group had statistically significant improvements (or protective effects) on changes in self-rated health at the 2, 3 and 5 year follow-ups. The 5-year improvement was 2.8 points (p = 0.03). No significant differences were observed in the memory or reasoning groups at any time.Conclusion: The speed of processing intervention significantly protected self-rated health in ACTIVE, with the average benefit equivalent to half the difference between excellent vs. very good health.


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