Boosting enjoyment and social inclusion to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour among older adults: protocol for a feasibility study to test the JOIN4JOY approach in five European countries.

INTRODUCTION: Programmes for older people aimed at increasing physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behaviour (SB) traditionally focus on achieving functional and health improvements. Focusing on enjoyment and social inclusion could strengthen adherence and help reach older people with social disadvantages. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Join4Joy approach in PA programmes and its assessment tools. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A multicentric, pragmatic, pre-post feasibility study using mixed methods will be conducted. The intervention will consist of a PA programme boosting enjoyment and social inclusion, grounded on a co-creation process. Trainers will offer twelve, 1-hour weekly sessions of structured, supervised, group-based PA. Participants will be encouraged to increase activity in daily living. 144 older people will be recruited from the community and nursing homes in Spain, Denmark, Italy, Germany, and France. Additionally, participants and trainers will be invited to join virtual communities of practice to share their experiences across settings and countries. Qualitative procedures will be used to explore the acceptability of the design via interviews and focus groups with participants and trainers. Quantitative methods will be used to assess uptake, adherence, retention, reach, satisfaction, enjoyment (PACES questionnaire), physical function (e.g., Short Physical Performance Battery), quality of life (EQ-5D-5L scale), perceived improvement (Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale-I), activities of daily living (Barthel index) and SB and PA patterns (IPAQ and accelerometry). The degree and type of participation in virtual communities of practice will also be assessed. SPSS software will be used for the analysis of quantitative variables. Qualitative data will be analysed using reflective thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke (2006). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: A favourable report by the Research Ethics Committee of UVic-UCC (282/2023) was obtained on 26 June 26th, 2023. Participation and withdrawal will be voluntary. Participants' (or their legal guardians', when necessary) written permission will be required. Results of the study will be disseminated through publication of scientific articles, presentations at sport and health-related professional conferences and congresses, as well as through social media and via the Join4Joy website. STUDY REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06100835.

[What needs do experts and future Physical Activity and Sport professionals perceive to promote healthy aging? Professionals and students' views]. / ¿Qué necesidades perciben los expertos y los futuros profesionales de la Actividad Física y del Deporte para promover un envejecimiento saludable? Visión de profesionales y estudiantes.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity acts as an adjuvant in the treatment of numerous diseases and in the promotion of healthy aging. Increasing longevity entails an increase in the demand for professionals who prescribe physical activity, specifically physiotherapists and physical-activity educators. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of a group of third- and fourth-year Physiotherapy students (n=9) and Sport Sciences students (n=5), and experts who work with older adults (n=3) about their knowledge of the older adult population and healthy aging. The secondary objectives were to: (a) explore what knowledge future professionals need about physical activity programming and about physical activity programs aimed at maintaining and improving health among older adults; (b) explore what would be the best methodology to acquire such knowledge; and (c) explore whether a relationship is perceived between knowledge about the older adult population and motivation to work with this population group. METHODS: Two discussion groups with students and three interviews with experts were conducted. Discussion groups and interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through a reflexive thematic analysis, following the steps described by Braun and Clarke (2021). RESULTS: Three themes were identified from the discussion groups: (1) conception and ideas about older adults, (2) skills and knowledge perceived as important, and (3) proposals for motivational intervention addressed to the older population. Four themes were identified from the interviews with experts: (1) characteristics of the future professional, (2) physical activity programs for older people: the recipe for success, (3) the role of enjoyment as key to success, and (4) barriers/obstacles along the path. CONCLUSION: Students of both degrees and experts believe that more practical training opportunities are needed, to enable students to interact with the older population and get to know their needs, motivations, and barriers, to increase physical activity levels in this population group.