The Effect of Active Plus, a Computer-Tailored Physical Activity Intervention, on the Physical Activity of Older Adults with Chronic Illness(es)-A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
- PMID: 32290072
- PMCID: PMC7177821
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072590
The Effect of Active Plus, a Computer-Tailored Physical Activity Intervention, on the Physical Activity of Older Adults with Chronic Illness(es)-A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
eHealth interventions aimed at improving physical activity (PA) can reach large populations with few resources and demands on the population as opposed to centre-based interventions. Active Plus is a proven effective computer-tailored PA intervention for the older adult population focusing on PA in daily life. This manuscript describes the effects of the Active Plus intervention (N = 260) on PA of older adults with chronic illnesses (OACI), compared to a waiting list control group (N = 325). It was part of a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effects of the Active Plus intervention on cognitive functioning. OACI (≥65 years) with at least one chronic illness were allocated to one of the conditions. Intervention group participants received PA advice. Baseline and follow-up measurements were assessed after 6 and 12 months. Intervention effects on objectively measured light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) min/week were analysed with multilevel linear mixed-effects models adjusted for the clustered design. Intervention effects on self-reported MVPA min/week on common types of PA were analysed with two-part generalized linear mixed-effects models adjusted for the clustered design. The dropout rate was 19.1% after 6 months and 25.1% after 12 months. Analyses showed no effects on objectively measured PA. Active Plus increased the likelihood to perform self-reported cycling and gardening at six months and participants who cycled increased their MVPA min/week of cycling. Twelve months after baseline the intervention increased the likelihood to perform self-reported walking and participants who cycled at 12 months increased their MVPA min/week of cycling. Subgroup analyses showed that more vulnerable participants (higher degree of impairment, age or body mass index) benefitted more from the intervention on especially the lower intensity PA outcomes. In conclusion, Active Plus only increased PA behaviour to a limited extent in OACI 6 and 12 months after baseline measurements. The Active Plus intervention may yet be not effective enough by itself in OACI. A blended approach, where this eHealth intervention and face-to-face contact are combined, is advised to improve the effects of Active Plus on PA in this target group.
Keywords: accelerometer; ageing; chronic disease; eHealth; physical activity promotion; randomized intervention; self-report.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
Similar articles
-
A randomized controlled trial into the cognitive effects of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention in older adults with chronic disease(s).Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2021 Feb 25;18(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s11556-021-00259-9. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2021. PMID: 33632130 Free PMC article.
-
Results of MyPlan 2.0 on Physical Activity in Older Belgian Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial.J Med Internet Res. 2019 Oct 7;21(10):e13219. doi: 10.2196/13219. J Med Internet Res. 2019. PMID: 31593541 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
The effect of Active Plus, a computer-tailored physical activity intervention, on cognitive functioning of elderly people with chronic illness(es) - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.BMC Public Health. 2019 Aug 30;19(1):1197. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7517-3. BMC Public Health. 2019. PMID: 31470829 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth.Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016 Jun;41(6 Suppl 3):S197-239. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0663. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016. PMID: 27306431 Review.
-
Effect of eHealth to increase physical activity in healthy adults over 55 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2021 Apr;31(4):776-789. doi: 10.1111/sms.13903. Epub 2020 Dec 16. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2021. PMID: 33280182 Review.
Cited by
-
The Effectiveness of a Computer-Tailored Web-Based Physical Activity Intervention Using Fitbit Activity Trackers in Older Adults (Active for Life): Randomized Controlled Trial.J Med Internet Res. 2022 May 12;24(5):e31352. doi: 10.2196/31352. J Med Internet Res. 2022. PMID: 35552166 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
The longitudinal associations between change in physical activity and cognitive functioning in older adults with chronic illness (es).BMC Geriatr. 2021 Sep 4;21(1):478. doi: 10.1186/s12877-021-02429-x. BMC Geriatr. 2021. PMID: 34481465 Free PMC article.
-
Feasibility of the Remote Physical Activity Follow-Up Intervention after the Face-to-Face Program for Healthy Middle-Aged Adults: A Randomized Trial Using ICT and Mobile Technology.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 18;19(8):4922. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19084922. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. PMID: 35457787 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Determinants of physical activity behaviour change in (online) interventions, and gender-specific differences: a Bayesian network model.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Dec 19;19(1):155. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01381-2. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022. PMID: 36536443 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Effectiveness of home-based exercise delivered by digital health in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Age Ageing. 2022 Nov 2;51(11):afac243. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac243. Age Ageing. 2022. PMID: 36346736 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Gerteis J., Izrael D., Deitz D., LeRoy L., Ricciardi R., Miller T., Basu J. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Rockville, MD, USA: 2014. Multiple Chronic Conditions Chartbook.
-
- Voss M.W., Carr L.J., Clark R., Weng T. Revenge of the “sit” II: Does lifestyle impact neuronal and cognitive health through distinct mechanisms associated with sedentary behavior and physical activity? Ment. Health Phys. Act. 2014;7:9–24. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2014.01.001. - DOI
-
- Marcus B.H., Williams D.M., Dubbert P.M., Sallis J.F., King A.C., Yancey A.K., Franklin B.A., Buchner D., Daniels S.R., Claytor R.P. What we know and what we need to know: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association council on nutrition, physical activity, and metabolism (subcommittee on physical activity); council on cardiovascular disease in the young; and the interdis. Circulation. 2006;114:2739–2752. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.179683. - DOI - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous