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

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.

FIGURE 1—

Recruitment and retention of participants into the Active for Life program. Note. Community organizations tracked recruitment efforts at an aggregate level. Thus, assessment numbers refer to the number of formal eligibility assessments conducted before and during the months in which participants were enrolled during the first year of the study. Some individuals who were screened and not included during the first year of the study could have started the program at a later time.