Prescribing Physical Activity for Healthy Aging: Longitudinal Follow-Up and Mixed Method Analysis of a Primary Care Intervention

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 30-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Knight ◽  
Robert J. Petrella
JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/12496 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e12496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakkoyya H Lewis ◽  
Maria C Swartz ◽  
Eloisa Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth J Lyons

Background Physical activity (PA) is critical for maintaining independence and delaying mobility disability in aging adults. However, 27 to 44% of older adults in the United States are meeting the recommended PA level. Activity trackers are proving to be a promising tool to promote PA adherence through activity tracking and enhanced social interaction features. Although social support has been known to be an influential behavior change technique to promote PA, how middle-aged and older adults use the social interaction feature of mobile apps to provide virtual support to promote PA engagement remains mostly underexplored. Objective This study aimed to describe the social support patterns of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile app as part of a behavioral PA intervention. Methods Data from 35 participants (mean age 61.66 [SD 6] years) in a 12-week, home-based activity intervention were used for this secondary mixed method analysis. Participants were provided with a Jawbone Up24 activity monitor and an Apple iPad Mini installed with the UP app to facilitate self-monitoring and social interaction. All participants were given an anonymous account and encouraged to interact with other participants using the app. Social support features included comments and likes. Thematic coding was used to identify the type of social support provided within the UP app and characterize the levels of engagement from users. Participants were categorized as superusers or contributors, and passive participants were categorized as lurkers based on the literature. Results Over the 12-week intervention, participants provided a total of 3153 likes and 1759 comments. Most participants (n=25) were contributors, with 4 categorized as superusers and 6 categorized as lurkers. Comments were coded as emotional support, informational support, instrumental support, self-talk, and other, with emotional support being the most prevalent type. Conclusions Our cohort of middle-aged and older adults was willing to use the social network feature in an activity app to communicate with anonymous peers. Most of our participants were contributors. In addition, the social support provided through the activity app followed social support constructs. In sum, PA apps are a promising tool for delivering virtual social support to enhance PA engagement and have the potential to make a widespread impact on PA promotion. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01869348; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348


BJGP Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen19X101665
Author(s):  
Tanvi Rai ◽  
Jane Bruton ◽  
Meaghan Kall ◽  
Richard Ma ◽  
Erica Pufall ◽  
...  

BackgroundAdvances in treatment have transformed HIV into a long-term condition (LTC), presenting fresh challenges for health services, HIV specialists, and GPs.AimTo explore the experience of people living with HIV (PLHIV) regarding consulting their GPs.Design & settingA mixed-method analysis using data from two sources: a nationally-representative survey of PLHIV and a qualitative study with London-based PLHIV.MethodUnivariate logistic regression was used for quantitative data and framework analysis for qualitative data.ResultsThe survey had 4422 participants; the qualitative study included 52 participants. In both studies, registration with a GP and HIV status disclosure were high. Similar to general population trends, recent GP use was associated with poor self-rated health status, comorbidities, older age, and lower socioeconomic status. Two-thirds reported a good experience with GPs; a lower proportion felt comfortable asking HIV-related questions. Actual or perceived HIV stigma were consistently associated with poor satisfaction. In the interviews, participants with additional LTCs valued sensitive and consistent support from GPs. Some anticipated, and sometimes experienced, problems relating to HIV status, as well as GPs’ limited experience and time to manage their complex needs. Sometimes they took their own initiative to facilitate coordination and communication. For PLHIV, a ‘good’ GP offered continuity and took time to know and accept them without judgment.ConclusionThe authors suggest clarification of roles and provision of relevant support to build the confidence of PLHIV in GPs and primary care staff to care for them. As the PLHIV population ages, there is a strong need to develop trusting patient–GP relationships and HIV-friendly GP practices.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakkoyya H Lewis ◽  
Maria C Swartz ◽  
Eloisa Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth J Lyons

BACKGROUND Physical activity (PA) is critical for maintaining independence and delaying mobility disability in aging adults. However, 27 to 44% of older adults in the United States are meeting the recommended PA level. Activity trackers are proving to be a promising tool to promote PA adherence through activity tracking and enhanced social interaction features. Although social support has been known to be an influential behavior change technique to promote PA, how middle-aged and older adults use the social interaction feature of mobile apps to provide virtual support to promote PA engagement remains mostly underexplored. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the social support patterns of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile app as part of a behavioral PA intervention. METHODS Data from 35 participants (mean age 61.66 [SD 6] years) in a 12-week, home-based activity intervention were used for this secondary mixed method analysis. Participants were provided with a Jawbone Up24 activity monitor and an Apple iPad Mini installed with the UP app to facilitate self-monitoring and social interaction. All participants were given an anonymous account and encouraged to interact with other participants using the app. Social support features included comments and likes. Thematic coding was used to identify the type of social support provided within the UP app and characterize the levels of engagement from users. Participants were categorized as superusers or contributors, and passive participants were categorized as lurkers based on the literature. RESULTS Over the 12-week intervention, participants provided a total of 3153 likes and 1759 comments. Most participants (n=25) were contributors, with 4 categorized as superusers and 6 categorized as lurkers. Comments were coded as emotional support, informational support, instrumental support, self-talk, and other, with emotional support being the most prevalent type. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort of middle-aged and older adults was willing to use the social network feature in an activity app to communicate with anonymous peers. Most of our participants were contributors. In addition, the social support provided through the activity app followed social support constructs. In sum, PA apps are a promising tool for delivering virtual social support to enhance PA engagement and have the potential to make a widespread impact on PA promotion. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01869348; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A. Croteau ◽  
Vijiayurani Suresh ◽  
Elanna Farnham

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if using physical activity (PA) mentors has any additional impact on daily steps of older adults participating in the Maine in Motion (MIM) program in the primary care setting. Participants were randomly assigned to a MIM-only group (n= 14) or a MIM+ mentor group (n= 14). The MIM intervention lasted 6 months with follow-up at 12 months. Average age of participants was 64 ± 8.8 years and most participants had multiple chronic illnesses. At baseline, mean body mass index (BMI) was 32.2 ± 5.1 and average daily steps were 4,236 ± 2,266. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects for steps,F(2.324, 59.104) = 4.168,p= .015, but no main effects for group,F(1, 25) = 2.988,p= .096, or time-by-group interaction,F(2.324, 59.104) = 0.905,p= .151. All participants significantly increased daily steps over the course of the intervention, with MIM+ participants maintaining increases at follow-up. No significant findings were found for BMI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 457-457
Author(s):  
Ingemar Kåreholt ◽  
Liberta Mehmedi ◽  
Charlotta Nilsen

Abstract The study investigated the role of physical activity, from midlife to older age, in relation to lung function in older age. In order to increase the understanding of the relationship between physical activity and lung function, the relationship between physical activity in midlife and physical activity in older age was also studied. Two Swedish studies based on nationally representative samples were used in this study, the Level of Living Survey, LNU, and the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old, SWEOLD. The participants were interviewed on three occasions; at the mean ages of 53 years, 61 years, and 81 years. The average follow-up time from the last to the first interview was 24-30 years. The results show that more physical activity in late midlife (mean age of 61 years) was associated with better lung function in older age. The association persists but attenuates when physical activity in older age was included in the analyses. There was also a strong association between physical activity in older age and better lung function in older age. Physical activity in late midlife had a positive association with physical activity in older age. This study shows the importance of physical activity in late midlife and in older ages to maintain good lung function in older ages. To invest in preventive actions in the form of physical activity are vital to be able to promote healthy aging, and should include the oldest old (76+).


Author(s):  
Katie R. Hosteng ◽  
Jacob E. Simmering ◽  
Linnea A. Polgreen ◽  
James F. Cremer ◽  
Alberto M. Segre ◽  
...  

Background: Regular physical activity is crucial for healthy aging, but older adults are the least active age group. This study explored the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a multilevel mHealth intervention for increasing physical activity of older adults living in a retirement community. Methods: Participants included 54 older adults (mean age = 81.2 y, 77.8% female, 98.1% white) living in a retirement community. Participants received a Fitbit Zip and access to a multilevel mHealth physical activity intervention (MapTrek Residential) for 8 weeks. Physical activity (in steps per day) and intervention compliance (days worn) were measured objectively with the Fitbit for 12 weeks (8-wk intervention plus 4-wk follow-up). Psychosocial outcomes (social support, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations) were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks. Acceptability outcomes were assessed with an open-ended process evaluation survey and focus groups. Descriptive statistics and linear mixed models were used to examine intervention effects. Results: Participants increased daily steps from 5438 steps per day at baseline (95% CI, 4620 to 6256) to 6201 steps per day (95% CI, 5359 to 7042) at week 8 (P < .0001) but this was not maintained at 12 weeks (P = .92). Conclusions: Our multilevel mHealth physical activity intervention was effective for increasing physical activity older adults over 8 weeks. Additional research focused on maintaining physical activity gains with this approach is warranted.


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