Brief Physical Activity Intervention for Older People With Multimorbidity

Northumbria University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Inactivity; Chronic Conditions, Multiple; Old Age; Debility

Treatments: Behavioral: Brief physical activity intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05287932

HLSGT030322

Details and patient eligibility

About

Physical activity is an important determinant of health and well-being in older people. However, many older people do not achieve recommended physical activity levels and increasing older people's physical activity is challenging. This preliminary study will explore the effects of a brief physical activity intervention on physical activity and physical function in older people with multimorbidity. The findings will be used to inform the design of a subsequent adequately-powered randomised controlled trial.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• aged ≥60 years
• 2 or more chronic conditions
• able to walk outside the home
• able to attend the study visits

Exclusion criteria

• living in a residential or nursing home
• housebound
• ≥3 falls in previous year
• dementia or significant cognitive impairment (unable to follow simple instructions)
• contraindication to increasing physical activity
• unable to read or speak English
• unable to provide consent
• no more than one person per household

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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16 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Brief physical activity intervention including an initial 45-minute physical activity consultation, telephone support after 2 weeks (approx. 15-minute call), and provision of a pedometer, written information, and a physical activity diary. Embedded behaviour change techniques will include goal setting, self-monitoring, building self-efficacy and social support, and overcoming barriers.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Brief physical activity intervention

Wait-list control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will not receive any active or placebo intervention during the 4-week study period. They will also not receive any trial contacts during this period. They will however continue to be able to access their usual care from primary, secondary, community, and social services. After the final (4-week) follow-up assessment, this group will receive the full physical activity intervention.