Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Older people form an increasingly large group within our society. Living longer brings a greater risk of physical and mental decline and loneliness, and a greater need for care and support. There is also a greater risk of developing age-related diseases such as Alzheimers. Because of this, we urgently need to find ways of promoting good health in later life, and preventing, delaying or reducing the impact of age-related disability. This is essential if older people are to enjoy a good quality of life and remain independent for as long as possible. Lifestyle choices appear to influence well-being in old age. People who engage in plenty of mental, physical and social activity tend to have better well-being and remain independent for longer. Unfortunately, many older people are mentally and physically under-active and socially isolated. This suggests that we need to encourage lasting behaviour change. People are more likely to alter their behaviour if they have support from others and access to facilities and resources.
Who can participate?
All indioviduals aged over 50 and attending the AgeWell centre
What does the study involve?
Those who agree to take part will be allocated randomly to have one of three types of interview. One will involve a general chat about the centre. The second will focus on goal-setting, working with the person to identify up to five areas where they would like to make changes and devising a plan to achieve these goals. The third will be similar to the second but participants will also receive a mentoring phone call every two months. After a year, we will find out how much the three groups have increased their levels of mental and physical activity, and compare the effects of the different types of interview.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will receive a health check and individualised health advice, and will have the opportunity to talk about how to get the most out of taking part in the Centre. By taking part people will be contributing to a research project which has made it possible to open the AgeWell Centre in Nefyn, and participation will help us to understand more about how to improve well-being for other over 50s in the future.
We do not think there are any risks associated with taking part. Once the study has been completed we will provide everyone who took part with information about the findings. The findings will be used to inform policy makers and service providers about ways of improving well-being in later life. They will also provide a basis for developing a larger study in which we will follow up the participants for a number of years to find out whether changes in behaviour result in greater well-being and help to reduce the impact of age-related disability and disease.
Where is the study run from?
Resource centre for over 50s in Nefyn, North Wales
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study will commenced in November 2011 and we expect to complete the study towards the end of 2013
Who is funding the study?
This research study is being undertaken as a partnership between Bangor University and Age Concern Gwynedd a Môn, and is funded by the Medical Research Council as part of the Life-long Health and Well-being initiative.
Who is the main contact?
Professor Linda Clare
l.clare@bangor.ac.uk
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
G1001888/1
Study information
Scientific title
Behaviour change to promote health and well-being in later life: a goal-setting intervention
Acronym
Study hypothesis
This study will provide information about the feasibility of a community-based lifestyle intervention model for over 50s and of the implementation of a goal-setting intervention for behaviour change, together with initial evidence about the short-term effects of goal setting on behaviour.
Ethics approval
North Wales Research Ethics Committee, 1 August 2011, ref: 11/WA/0219
Study design
Randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please contact s.nelis@bangor.ac.uk to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Healthy ageing
Intervention
A randomised controlled trial of a goal-setting intervention to promote behaviour change in both physical activity and cognitive activity in the context of a community resource centre for over 50s.
Group 1 - (control) will have a general discussion about the facilities and activities available
Group 2 - (goal-setting) will have a structured goal-setting interview
Group 3 - (goal-setting with mentoring) will receive the same interview as Group 2 plus a follow up mentoring by telephone
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Extent of participation in cognitive activities: Florida Cognitive Activities Scale
2. Extent of participation in physical activity: Physical Activities Scale for the Elderly
For groups 2 and 3, changes in goal performance and satisfaction ratings, and the extent of goal attainment, will be assessed
Secondary outcome measures
Assessing the effects of intervention on cognitive, physical, social and psychological functioning, health and quality of life
Overall trial start date
01/11/2011
Overall trial end date
30/09/2013
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. All individuals aged over 50 years of age
2. Resident in the local community
3. Attending the AgeWell centre
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
75 individuals (target n=25 per condition)
Participant exclusion criteria
Does not meet inclusion criteria
Recruitment start date
01/11/2011
Recruitment end date
30/09/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Bangor University
Bangor
LL57 2AS
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Bangor University (UK)
Sponsor details
School of Psychology
Adeilad Brigantia
Penrallt Road
Bangor
LL57 2AS
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research council
Funder name
Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK) ref: G1001888/1
Alternative name(s)
MRC
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Federal/National Government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2012 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22827885
2015 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25784409
Publication citations
-
Protocol
Clare L, Hindle JV, Jones IR, Thom JM, Nelis SM, Hounsome B, Whitaker CJ, The AgeWell study of behavior change to promote health and wellbeing in later life: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial., Trials, 2012, 13, 115, doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-13-115.
-
Results
Clare L, Nelis SM, Jones IR, Hindle JV, Thom JM, Nixon JA, Cooney J, Jones CL, Tudor Edwards R, Whitaker CJ, The Agewell trial: a pilot randomised controlled trial of a behaviour change intervention to promote healthy ageing and reduce risk of dementia in later life., BMC Psychiatry, 2015, 15, 1, 402, doi: 10.1186/s12888-015-0402-4.