Use of behavior change techniques in physical activity programs and services for older adults: findings from a rapid review.

BACKGROUND: Understanding behavior change techniques (BCTs) used in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of physical activity programs/services for older adults can help us to guide their implementation in real-world settings. PURPOSE: This study aims to: (a) identify the number and type of BCTs used in physical activity programs/services for older adults evaluated in large, good quality RCTs and (b) explore the impact of different BCTs on different outcome domains. METHODS: This is a secondary data analysis of a WHO-commissioned rapid review of physical activity programs/services for older adults. Fifty-six trials testing 70 interventions were coded for the type and number of BCTs present using a published BCT taxonomy. The proportion of positive effects found from physical activity interventions using the most common BCTs was calculated for the outcomes of physical activity, intrinsic capacity, functional ability, social domain, cognitive and emotional functioning, and well-being and quality of life. RESULTS: Thirty-nine of the 93 possible BCTs were identified in the included trials and 529 BCTs in total (mean 7.6, range 2-17). The most common BCTs were "action planning" (68/70 interventions), "instructions on how to perform a behavior" (60/70), "graded tasks" (53/70), "demonstration of behavior" (44/70), and "behavioral practice/rehearsal" (43/70). Interventions that used any of the most common BCTs showed overwhelmingly positive impacts on physical activity and social domain outcomes. CONCLUSION: Consideration of which BCTs are included in interventions and their impact on outcomes can improve the effectiveness and implementation of future interventions. To enable this, providers can design, implement, and evaluate interventions using a BCT taxonomy.

Interventions aimed at modifying health-related behaviors, such as physical activity, are often complex, with numerous components. To better understand interventions' "active ingredients," we conducted a secondary analysis of a World Health Organization (WHO)-commissioned rapid review, using a behavior change technique (BCT) taxonomy. We aimed to classify the number and types of BCTs in physical activity programs for older adults, as identified in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and examine their impact on outcomes, including physical activity, intrinsic capacity, functional ability, social domain, cognitive and emotional functioning, and well-being. Examining 56 trials testing 70 interventions, we identified 39 out of 93 possible BCTs, totaling 529 instances across interventions. Common BCTs included "action planning," "instructions on how to perform a behavior," "graded tasks," "demonstration of behavior," and "behavioral practice/rehearsal." Interventions using the 10 most common BCTs demonstrated overwhelmingly positive impacts on physical activity and social domain outcomes. However, these BCTs were not consistently present in interventions yielding positive outcomes in other domains, with greater variation in effects. Our study highlights the significance of identifying both BCTs and desired outcomes when designing physical activity interventions. We advocate for the use of a taxonomy in designing and implementing future programs to maximize effectiveness.

Effect of a coaching intervention to enhance physical activity and prevent falls in community-dwelling people aged 60+ years: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a coaching intervention compared with control on physical activity and falls rate at 12 months in community-dwelling people aged 60+ years. DESIGN: Cluster randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Community-dwelling older people. PARTICIPANTS: 72 clusters (605 participants): 37 clusters (290 participants) randomised to the intervention and 35 (315 participants) to control. INTERVENTION: Intervention group received written information, fall risk assessment and prevention advice by a physiotherapist, activity tracker and telephone-based coaching from a physiotherapist focused on safe physical activity. Control group received written information and telephone-based dietary coaching. Both groups received up to 19 sessions of telephone coaching over 12 months. OUTCOMES: The co-primary outcomes were device-measured physical activity expressed in counts per minute at 12 months and falls rate over 12 months. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of fallers, device-measured daily steps and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), self-reported hours per week of physical activity, body mass index, eating habits, goal attainment, mobility-related confidence, quality of life, fear of falling, risk-taking behaviour, mood, well-being and disability. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 74 (SD 8) years, and 70% (n=425) were women. There was no significant effect of the intervention on device-measured physical activity counts per minute (mean difference 5 counts/min/day, 95% CI -21 to 31), or falls at 12 months (0.71 falls/person/year in intervention group and 0.87 falls/person/year in control group; incidence rate ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.14). The intervention had a positive significant effect on device-measured daily steps and MVPA, and self-reported hours per week of walking, well-being, quality of life, and disability. No significant between-group differences were identified in other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: A physical activity and fall prevention programme including fall risk assessment and prevention advice, plus telephone-based health coaching, did not lead to significant differences in physical activity counts per minute or falls rate at 12 months. However, this programme improved other physical activity measures (ie, daily steps, MVPA, hours per week of walking), overall well-being, quality of life and disability. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12615001190594.

Exercise Interventions Delivered Through Telehealth to Improve Physical Functioning for Older Adults with Frailty, Cognitive, or Mobility Disability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introductions: This study assessed the effects of telehealth-delivered exercise interventions on physical functioning for older adults and explored implementation measures related to program delivery. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies investigating effects of exercise interventions delivered through telehealth in adults 60+ years of age with frailty, mobility, or cognitive disability on mobility, strength, balance, falls, and quality of life (QoL). Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTSDiscus, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database) were searched from inception until May 2022. Evidence certainty was assessed with Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation and meta-analysis summarized study effects. Results: A total of 11 studies were included, 5 randomized controlled trials, 2 pilot studies, and 4 feasibility studies. The overall certainty of evidence was rated as "low" or "very low." Pooled between-group differences were not statistically significant, but effect sizes suggested that telehealth produced a moderate improvement on mobility (n = 5 studies; standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.25 to 1.51; p = 0.000, I2 = 86%) and strength (n = 4; SMD = 0.73; 95% CI = -0.10 to 1.56; p = 0.000, I2 = 84%), a small improvement on balance (n = 3; SMD = 0.40; 95% CI = -035 to 1.15; p = 0.012, I2 = 78%), and no effect on QoL. Analysis of implementation measures suggested telehealth to be feasible in this population, given high rates of acceptability and adherence with minimal safety concerns. Discussion: Telehealth may provide small to moderate benefits on a range of physical outcomes and appears to be well received in aged care populations.

Prevalence of low bone mineral density (T-score ≤ - 2.5) in the whole spectrum of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The prevalence of low bone mineral density (LBMD) in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unknown. We identified a high prevalence of LBMD in CKD population. Thus, public health strategies should include efforts to prevent, early detect, and manage LBMD in CKD patients, especially in patients undergoing kidney replacement therapy. Mineral and bone disorders are common among patients with CKD, which affects bone mineral density. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of low bone mineral density (LBMD) in adults with CKD. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and LILACS databases from inception to February 2021. Observational studies that reported the prevalence of LBMD in adults with CKD stages 3a-5D were included. The LBMD was defined according to the World Health Organization criterion (T-score ≤ - 2.5). Random-effect model meta-analyses were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of LBMD. Meta-regressions and subgroup analyses were conducted for stages of CKD, dialysis modality, gender, bone sites and morphology, and geographical region. This study was registered in PROSPERO, number CRD42020211077. One-hundred and fifty-three studies with 78,092 patients were included. The pooled global prevalence of LBMD in CKD was 24.5% (95% CI, 21.3 - 27.8%). Subgroup analyses indicated a higher prevalence of LBMD in dialysis patients (30%, 95% CI 25 - 35%) compared with non-dialysis CKD patients (12%, 95% CI 8 - 16%), cortical bone sites (28%, 95% CI 23 - 35%) relative to trabecular sites (19%, 95% CI 14 - 24%), while similar estimates in the European and the Asiatic continents (26%, 95% CI 21 - 30% vs 25%, 95% CI 21 - 29). The prevalence of LBMD in CKD patients is high, particularly in those undergoing dialysis and in cortical bone sites. Therefore, efforts to early diagnosis and management strategies should be implemented in clinical routine for an epidemiological control of LBMD in CKD patients.

Physical activity and injurious falls in older Australian women: adjusted associations and modification by physical function limitation and frailty in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate associations between leisure-time physical activity (LPA) and injurious falls in older women and explore modification of associations by physical function and frailty. METHODS: Women born during 1946-51 from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, injurious falls (self-reported fall with injury and/or medical attention) and self-reported weekly LPA (duration and type). We undertook cross-sectional and prospective analyses using data from 2016 [n = 8,171, mean (SD) age 68 (1)] and 2019 surveys (n = 7,057). Associations were quantified using directed acyclic graph-informed logistic regression and effect modification examined using product terms. RESULTS: Participation in LPA as recommended by World Health Organization (150-300 min/week) was associated with lower odds of injurious falls in cross-sectional (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 0.74, 95% CI 0.61-0.90) and prospective analyses (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60-0.94). Compared with those who reported no LPA, cross-sectionally, odds of injurious falls were lower in those who reported brisk walking (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.67-0.89) and vigorous LPA (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75-1.00). No significant association was found between different types of LPA and injurious falls prospectively. Only cross-sectionally, physical function limitation and frailty modified the association between LPA and injurious falls, with tendencies for more injurious falls with more activity in those with physical limitation or frailty, and fewer injurious falls with more activity among those without physical function limitation or frailty. CONCLUSION: Participation in recommended levels of LPA was associated with lower odds of injurious falls. Caution is required when promoting general physical activity among people with physical limitation or frailty.

Cost-effectiveness of physical activity programs and services for older adults: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Evidence supporting physical activity for older adults is strongly positive. Implementation and scale-up of these interventions need to consider the value for money. This scoping review aimed to assess the volume of (i) systematic review evidence regarding economic evaluations of physical activity interventions, and (ii) of cost utility analysis (CUA) studies (trial- or model-based) of physical activity interventions for older people. METHODS: We searched five databases (January 2010 to February 2022) for systematic reviews of economic evaluations, and two databases (1976 to February 2022) for CUA studies of physical activity interventions for any population of people aged 60+ years. RESULTS: We found 12 potential reviews, two of which were eligible for inclusion. The remaining 10 reviews included eligible individual studies that were included in this review. All individual studies from the 12 reviews (n = 37) investigated the cost-effectiveness of structured exercise and most showed the intervention was more costly but more effective than no intervention. We identified 27 CUA studies: two investigated a physical activity promotion program and the remainder investigated structured exercise. Most interventions (86%) were more costly but more effective, and the remaining were cost-saving compared to no intervention. CONCLUSIONS: There is a scarcity of reviews investigating the value for money of physical activity interventions for older adults. Most studies investigated structured exercise. Physical activity interventions were generally more effective than no intervention but more costly. As such an intervention could be cost-effective and therefore worthy of wider implementation, but there is a need for more frequent economic evaluation in this field.

The Value of Mind-Body Connection in Physical Activity for Older People.

Exercise that targets balance and strength is proven to prevent falls in older age. The Successful AGEing yoga trial is the first large randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of yoga on falls in people aged ≥60 years. We conducted a realist process evaluation to explain the strong participant engagement observed using interviews (21 participants and three yoga instructors) and focus groups (12 participants and four yoga instructors). Results showed that relaxation, breathing, and yoga's mind-body connection created a satisfying internal focus on bodily sensation which was valued by participants. The mechanisms of mindfulness and embodiment appeared to facilitate this. Mindfulness and embodiment are also linked to, and enhance engagement with, other forms of physical activity. By focusing creatively on these mechanisms, we can develop a range of programs that target improvements in physical and mental health (including reducing falls and fear of falls) and appeal to older people.

Impact of physical activity programs and services for older adults: a rapid review.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of which physical activity programs are most effective for older adults in different sub-populations and contexts is limited. The objectives of this rapid review were to: 1) Overview evidence evaluating physical activity programs/services for older adults; and 2) Describe impact on physical activity, falls, intrinsic capacity (physical domain), functional ability (physical, social, and cognitive/emotional domains), and quality of life. METHODS: We conducted a rapid review of primary studies from 350 systematic reviews identified in a previous scoping review (March 2021: PEDro, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Database). For Objective 1, we included intervention studies investigating physical activity programs/services in adults ≥ 60 years. Of these, we included good quality (≥ 6/10 PEDro scale) randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with ≥ 50 participants per group in Objective 2. RESULTS: Objective 1: Of the 1421 intervention studies identified from 8267 records, 79% were RCTs, 87% were in high income countries and 39% were good quality. Objective 2: We identified 87 large, good quality RCTs (26,861 participants). Overall activity promotion, structured exercise and recreation/sport had positive impacts (≥ 50% between-group comparisons positive) across all outcome domains. For overall activity promotion (21 intervention groups), greatest impacts were on physical activity (100% positive) and social outcomes (83% positive). Structured exercise (61 intervention groups) had particularly strong impacts on falls (91% positive), intrinsic capacity (67% positive) and physical functioning (77% positive). Recreation/sport (24 intervention groups) had particularly strong impacts on cognitive/emotional functioning (88% positive). Multicomponent exercise (39 intervention groups) had strong impacts across all outcomes, particularly physical activity (95% positive), falls (90% positive) and physical functioning (81% positive). Results for different populations and settings are presented. CONCLUSION: Evidence supporting physical activity for older adults is positive. We outline which activity types are most effective in different populations and settings.

What helps older people persevere with yoga classes? A realist process evaluation of a COVID-19-affected yoga program for fall prevention.

BACKGROUND: Falls among older people are a major global health concern. This process evaluation investigates the experience of participants aged 60+ in a yoga program aimed at preventing falls which transitioned from studio-based classes to online classes in response to COVID-19 restrictions. We sought to understand how the Successful AGEing (SAGE) yoga program functioned in both settings and as a hybrid program, and to explain why it worked well for most participants. METHODS: Realist process evaluation was used to explore the factors that facilitated a successful transition for most participants, and to consider why it did not work for a minority. This approach develops program theories that describe which mechanisms an intervention is (or is not) activating, and how this is mediated by context to generate process outcomes. Data included interviews with participants (n = 21) and yoga instructors (n = 3), self-report feedback forms (n = 46), observation of classes and routine process measures. RESULTS: Factors that facilitated a successful transition for most participants included the quality of yoga instruction, the program format and inherent characteristics of yoga. Gains in transitioning online included continuity and greater convenience. Losses included perceived reduction in the effectiveness of yoga instruction. There were greater challenges for people struggling with pain and in disadvantageous home environments. We identified six program theories configured around 16 mechanisms: 1. It's worth the effort and 2. In expert hands (these had the same mechanisms: value expectancy, therapeutic alliance and achievement/mastery), 3. A communal experience (these mechanisms were shared experience, social connection, social comparison and peer checking), 4. Putting yoga within reach (accessibility, convenience, gratitude), 5. Building yoga habits (purposeful structure, momentum, accountability and continuity), and 6. Yoga's special properties (embodiment and mindfulness). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that online delivery of a yoga program for people aged 60+ retained much of the value of a face-to-face program for the majority of participants, and increased the value for some. The structured, communal nature of an organised group program delivered by a skilled instructor, together with yoga's intrinsic focus on mindfulness, facilitated continued engagement and perceived health benefits, despite the change in delivery mode.

Are musculoskeletal conditions neglected in national health surveys?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the proportion of national health surveys that contain questions on the prevalence and consequences of musculoskeletal conditions. METHODS: We used a comprehensive search strategy to obtain national health surveys from the 218 countries listed by the World Bank. Two authors independently extracted information from each national health survey. Outcomes were the proportion of surveys that contained questions on the prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions using the Global Burden of Disease categorization of RA, OA, low back pain, neck pain, gout and other and contained condition-specific questions about activity limitation, severity of pain and work absence. We also measured how frequently the prevalence of low back pain was measured using a consensus-based standard definition for low back pain prevalence studies. RESULTS: We identified national health surveys from 170 countries. Sixty-two (36.4%), the majority from high-income countries (n = 43), measured the prevalence of at least one musculoskeletal condition. OA [53 (85.4%)], low back pain [39 (62.9%)] and neck pain [37 (59.7%)] were most commonly measured, while RA and gout prevalence were only measured in 10 (5.9%) and 3 (1.8%) surveys, respectively. A minority of surveys assessed condition-specific activity limitations [6 (3.6%)], pain severity [5 (2.9%)] and work absence [1 (0.6%)]. Only one survey used the consensus-based standard definition for low back pain. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal conditions are neglected in the majority of national health surveys. Monitoring musculoskeletal conditions through ongoing surveys is crucial for the development and evaluation of health policies to reduce their burden.