Characteristics of adopting and non-adopting sites: Evidence from the Fit and Strong! Program

There is growing need to understand factors that influence the dissemination of evidence-based (EB) programs. The National Council on Aging recommends that organizational readiness to adopt EB programs should be assessed by examining two constructs; willingness and capacity to adopt. Willingness assesses the organization's motivation, whereas capacity assesses organizational resources and demand for the program. We surveyed the universe (N =226) of potential adopters of Fit and Strong! - an EB physical activity (PA) program for older adults with osteoarthritis (OA) - to examine the characteristics of organizations that did and did not adopt the program. Adopting providers (N=26) were more rural (35%) and less urban (65%) relative to non-adopters (15% and 85%, respectively). Adopting providers were more likely to be medical centers (23% vs. 5%) and senior centers (46% vs. 25%) and less likely to be private gyms (0% vs. 10%), rehabilitation/PT centers (0% vs. 4%), or senior housing facilities (0% vs. 9%). Capacity to adopt Fit & Strong! among non-adopters was high - 85% of organizations had clients who would be interested in the program and 84% had clients with OA. Almost all non-adopter providers had space to conduct exercise programs (90%), employed exercise instructors, and 97% were definitely or probably willing to adopt the program. Findings showed that both willingness and capacity to adopt a program like Fit and Strong! were more pervasive across providers than anticipated and indicate that stepped up marketing efforts should be made increase awareness of the program.