Results of the first year of active for life: translation of 2 evidence-based physical activity programs for older adults into community settings.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Translating efficacious interventions into practice within community settings is a major public health challenge. We evaluated the effects of 2 evidence-based physical activity interventions on self-reported physical activity and related outcomes in midlife and older adults.

METHODS:
Four community-based organizations implemented Active Choices, a 6-month, telephone-based program, and 5 implemented Active Living Every Day, a 20-week, group-based program. Both programs emphasize behavioral skills necessary to become more physically active. Participants completed pretest and posttest surveys.

RESULTS:
Participants (n=838) were aged an average of 68.4 +/-9.4 years, 80.6% were women, and 64.1% were non-Hispanic White. Seventy-two percent returned posttest surveys. Intent-to-treat analyses found statistically significant increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and total physical activity, decreases in depressive symptoms and stress, increases in satisfaction with body appearance and function, and decreases in body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS:
The first year of Active for Life demonstrated that Active Choices and Active Living Every Day, 2 evidence-based physical activity programs, can be successfully translated into community settings with diverse populations. Further, the magnitudes of change in outcomes were similar to those reported in the efficacy trials.

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Author information

Author/s: Wilcox, Sara (S); Dowda, Marsha (M); Griffin, Sarah F (SF); Rheaume, Carol (C); Ory, Marcia G (MG); Leviton, Laura (L); King, Abby C (AC); Dunn, Andrea (A); Buchner, David M (DM); Bazzarre, Terry (T); Estabrooks, Paul A (PA); Campbell-Voytal, Kimberly (K); Bartlett-Prescott, Jenny (J); Dowdy, Diane (D); Castro, Cynthia M (CM); Carpenter, Ruth Ann (RA); Dzewaltowski, David A (DA); Mockenhaupt, Robin (R);

Affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. swilcox(-atsign-)sc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: American journal of public health (Am J Public Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 96 (issue 7) : pp 1201-9

Dates: Created 2006/06/28; Completed 2006/07/14; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 16735619, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

ErratumIn: Am J Public Health. 2006 Nov;96(11):1901.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Behavior Therapy
Body Image
Body Mass Index
Choice Behavior
Community Health Services - methods; organization & administration
Counseling
Evidence-Based Medicine
Exercise - psychology
Female

Female
Health Promotion - methods; organization & administration
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Personal Satisfaction
Program Evaluation
Questionnaires
Self Efficacy
Social Perception

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