Increasing Physical Activity Among Sedentary Older Adults:What, Where, When, and With Whom
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Sponsor
- Brandeis University
- Enrollment
- 86
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Number of Steps Walked
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 5 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to develop a smart phone app to administer a behavior change program that helps adults to increase daily steps by planning where, when, and with whom to walk. The investigators tested the effectiveness of the walking program app for increasing the number of daily steps among sedentary older adults. The investigators examined the effects on self-efficacy and social integration/support.
Detailed Description
Physical activity is broadly beneficial for physical, psychological, and cognitive aspects of health, yet only one in five U.S. adults meets the CDC physical activity guidelines. Making physical activity accessible and feasible throughout life is an important public health policy objective that is within reach with the right kind of behavioral and environmental supports. The project aims to provide such supports for an active lifestyle thereby contributing to healthy aging. The goal of this project is to increase physical activity (i.e., walking) in sedentary older adults by providing the environmental and behavioral resources to incorporate additional steps into their daily lives. The investigators used a behavioral approach that fosters a sense of control and facilitates planning by focusing on the what, when, where, and with whom aspects of their physical activity. The investigators proposed a user-friendly, practical way to increase steps. By providing people with specific, tailored information about the number of steps one can get by walking a certain distance or during a certain amount of time, participants can better plan when, where, and with whom they will be able to achieve the desired number of steps, break goals into manageable portions (at different times throughout the day or week), and thereby increase the likelihood of goal achievement. During the app development phase, the investigators demonstrated the app to 10 older adults to get their input. The goal was to get their feedback about the app features and to make sure it is user friendly. The investigators asked questions about the ease of using the app and their understanding of the app features. The interviewer recorded their answers to share with the research team and app developer. Modifications to the app were made based on the feedback. During the next phase of the study, the investigators tested whether the full app program was successful in increasing steps and whether it was more effective than the basic app that only includes step counting and goals, similar to a fitness tracker or pedometer. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to two conditions: the app with step counting and goals alone (control), or the full version of the app with the step counting and goals, schedule, maps, and social components (experimental). It was predicted that the intervention group would improve more on outcome measures than the control group.
Investigators
Margie Lachman
Professor of Psychology
Brandeis University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Sedentary adults, who own an iphone with step-tracking capabilities (5s or later).
- •Participants must be fit enough to walk for at least 20 minutes at a time.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Cognitive impairment
- •A recent (within the past 6 months) cardiovascular event, or fall.
- •A doctor has advised them not to walk
- •Anyone who already exercises regularly: walks for exercise more than 30 minutes per day, or does other forms of exercise 150 minutes per week or more, will be excluded.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Number of Steps Walked
Time Frame: Daily for one month
Number of steps recorded daily on the phone app, weekly step averages
Secondary Outcomes
- Self-Reported Vigorous Physical Activity(Baseline and one month from the start of the intervention)
- Exercise Self-efficacy(Baseline and one month from the start of the intervention)
- Exercise Control Beliefs(Baseline and one month from the start of the intervention)
- Social Contact Through the App(During the one month intervention)
- Daily Mood and Energy Levels(Daily)
- Self-Reported Moderate Physical Activity(Baseline and one month from the start of the intervention)
- Self-Reported Light Physical Activity(Baseline and one month from the start of the intervention)