Impact of Telephone Reinforcement on Predictors of Physical Activity Maintenance in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis

Currently, little is known about the impact of telephone reinforcement (TR) on maintenance of physical activity among older adults. This study examined the impact of TR provided as a follow up maintenance intervention to the Fit and Strong! program on factors believed to mediate exercise maintenance out to 18 months. Participants were older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis (n=486) who were randomly assigned to one of four follow up treatments. Participants assigned to negotiated follow up, worked with their instructor to develop a maintenance plan of their choice before the program ended. Persons assigned to the meanstreamed arm were referred to an ongoing physical activity program at the same site that offered Fit and Strong!. Within the two study arms participants were assigned randomly to TR or no TR. TR calls were provided bi-weekly during months 3-6 and tapered to once a month during months 7-18. Total sample and group differences were examined. Random effects modeling found that participants in the Mainstreamed with TR arm showed the most improvement in decisional balance (b=-.06, p=.02) and physical activity barriers (b=-.05, p=.04) over time whereas participants in the Negotiated no TR arm showed the most improvement in stage of change (b=-.27, p=.01) over time. Main findings and interactions with covariates will be reported. These findings will contribute to tailoring TR strategies that target physical activity maintenance among diverse older adults with OA in the future.