TY - JOUR
T1 - Health promotion in older chinese
T2 - A 12-month cluster randomized controlled trial of pedometry and peer support
AU - Neil Thomas, G.
AU - MacFarlane, Duncan J.
AU - Guo, Boliang
AU - Cheung, Bernard M.Y.
AU - McGhee, Sarah M.
AU - Chou, Kee Lee
AU - Deeks, Jonathan J.
AU - Lam, Tai Hing
AU - Tomlinson, Brian
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Purpose: Aging, in conjunction with decreasing physical activity, is associated with a range of health problems. Simple, low-maintenance, population-based means of promoting activity to counteract the age-associated decline are required. We therefore assessed the effect of pedometry and buddy support to increase physical activity. Methods: We undertook a clustered randomized trial (HKCTR-346) of 24 community centers involving 399 older Chinese participants (60 yr). Centers were randomly allocated to 1) pedometry and buddy, 2) pedometry and no buddy, 3) no pedometry and buddy, and 4) no pedometry and no buddy with a 2 × 2 factorial design. The trial simultaneously tested the individual and combined effects of the interventions. The intervention groups also received monthly organized group activities to provide encouragement and support. Outcome measures were assessed at 6 and 12 months, including physical fitness and activity and cardiovascular disease risk factors (anthropometry and blood pressure). Results: From the 24 centers, 356 volunteers (89.2%) completed the study. Those receiving the interventions had higher mean physical activity levels at 12 months of 1820 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1360-2290) and 1260 (95% CI = 780-1740) MET•min -1•wk, respectively relative to the decrease in the control groups. The buddy peer support intervention significantly improved mean aerobic fitness (12% [95% CI = 4%-21%]) and reduced both body fat (-0.6% [95% CI =-1.1% to 0.0%]) and time to complete the 2.5-m get-up-and-go test (-0.27 [95% CI =-0.53 to-0.01] s). No other improvements in the cardiovascular disease risk factors were observed. The combination of motivational tools was no better than the individual interventions. Conclusions: Both motivational interventions increased physical activity levels, and the buddy style improved fitness. These tools could be useful adjuncts in the prevention of obesity and age-related complications.
AB - Purpose: Aging, in conjunction with decreasing physical activity, is associated with a range of health problems. Simple, low-maintenance, population-based means of promoting activity to counteract the age-associated decline are required. We therefore assessed the effect of pedometry and buddy support to increase physical activity. Methods: We undertook a clustered randomized trial (HKCTR-346) of 24 community centers involving 399 older Chinese participants (60 yr). Centers were randomly allocated to 1) pedometry and buddy, 2) pedometry and no buddy, 3) no pedometry and buddy, and 4) no pedometry and no buddy with a 2 × 2 factorial design. The trial simultaneously tested the individual and combined effects of the interventions. The intervention groups also received monthly organized group activities to provide encouragement and support. Outcome measures were assessed at 6 and 12 months, including physical fitness and activity and cardiovascular disease risk factors (anthropometry and blood pressure). Results: From the 24 centers, 356 volunteers (89.2%) completed the study. Those receiving the interventions had higher mean physical activity levels at 12 months of 1820 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1360-2290) and 1260 (95% CI = 780-1740) MET•min -1•wk, respectively relative to the decrease in the control groups. The buddy peer support intervention significantly improved mean aerobic fitness (12% [95% CI = 4%-21%]) and reduced both body fat (-0.6% [95% CI =-1.1% to 0.0%]) and time to complete the 2.5-m get-up-and-go test (-0.27 [95% CI =-0.53 to-0.01] s). No other improvements in the cardiovascular disease risk factors were observed. The combination of motivational tools was no better than the individual interventions. Conclusions: Both motivational interventions increased physical activity levels, and the buddy style improved fitness. These tools could be useful adjuncts in the prevention of obesity and age-related complications.
KW - Buddy
KW - elderly
KW - exercise
KW - pedometer
KW - physical activity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861532131&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84861532131&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318244314a
DO - 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318244314a
M3 - Article
C2 - 22143109
AN - SCOPUS:84861532131
SN - 0195-9131
VL - 44
SP - 1157
EP - 1166
JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
IS - 6
ER -