Increasing physical activity in older adults

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Many older adults are both highly sedentary (i.e. spending considerable amounts of leisure time sitting) and physically inactive (i.e. performing little physical activity). This study will try an intervention that centres on a theory-based leaflet giving recommendations for simple activities that can be done to both increase physical activity and displace or prevent sedentary behaviour. The recommendations are designed to promote habit formation, which theory suggests should bring behavioural gains over the long term.

Who can participate?
Participants aged 60-75 who are sedentary (i.e. spend 6 or more hours sitting per day) and inactive (i.e. do less than 30 cumulative minutes of at-least-moderate physical activity per week), with no physical impairments preventing increases in physical activity.

What does the study involve?
Each participant participates for a 12-week period. Potentially eligible patients are telephoned and asked to confirm their eligibility. They then attend their general practice to provide consent. At this session, participants are fitted with an accelerometer and invited to an initial measurement session at University College London in central London, UK. At the initial session, participants complete measures of sedentary behaviour and physical activity, habit, health and wellbeing. Participants are then randomly allocated to one of two groups. The intervention group receive the intervention leaflet and the control group an existing NHS factsheet outlining government recommendations for physical activity and sedentary behaviour but no information on specific activities to achieve these guidelines. After four weeks, participants are telephoned to arrange an 8-week follow-up measurement session. For the intervention group, this phone call also serve as an opportunity to offer additional motivational support or clarification to participants. At the 8-weeks session, participants complete follow-up measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, habit, health, and wellbeing. After 12 weeks, participants complete the same measures as above and are also interviewed about their experiences of the intervention and study procedures. All participants also wear sealed accelerometers (for measurement purposes) for one-week periods before the initial assessment and at 8 and 12 weeks later.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants in the intervention group are expected to benefit from increasing and maintaining their engagement in physical activity, and reducing time spent sitting, both of which are expected to lead to sustainable gains in health, wellbeing and functioning. There may also be gains for those in the control arm, given that they receive a leaflet advising on recommended levels of physical activity, and on reduction of sedentary behaviour. The financial and time burdens associated with attending measurement sessions, completing measures and participating in a study for 12 weeks are at least partly balanced by reimbursing participants' travel expenses (up to £20) incurred in attending each session, and giving them a £10 shopping voucher to thank them for helping us with assessment. Participants are also given a £30 shopping voucher, for the same reason, upon completion of the 12-week follow-up session, conditional upon their attending the 8- and 12-week follow-up sessions and returning the accelerometer. No adverse events are expected for participants. The intervention leaflet has been developed by experts, in collaboration with inactive older adults themselves, so that the activities it recommends are feasible and low risk, and may be performed at low levels of intensity, so as to reduce the potential for harm or injury. The control treatment is an existing NHS factsheet setting out physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines and poses minimal risk.

Where is the study run from?
University College London (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run?
April 2014 to February 2015

Who is funding the study?
Medical Research Council (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Benjamin Gardner
b.gardner@ucl.ac.uk

Contact information

Study information

Eligibility

Locations

Countries of recruitment

• England
• United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Sponsor information

University College London (UK)
University/education

Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
England
United Kingdom

"ROR"	https://ror.org/02jx3x895

Funders

Funder type

Research council

Results and Publications

Study outputs

Editorial Notes

15/05/2017: Publication reference added.