141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

291479
Integrating exercise and bundled health promotion in a collaborative community-based program for older adults: A cluster randomized trial

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Joni Vander Bilt, MPH , Department of Epidemiology Prevention Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Wei-Hsuan Lo-Ciganic, MSCP, MS , Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Sarah E. Woody, MS , Department of Epidemiology, Prevention Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Janice Zgibor, RPH, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Allison Brenckle , Great Lakes Region, Arthritis Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA
Jane S. Brandenstein, BS, PT , Great Lakes Region, Western Pennsylvania, Arthritis Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA
Margaret B. Conroy, MD, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Elizabeth A. Schlenk, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Steve M. Albert, PhD , Department of Behavioral & Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Kenneth Kwoh, MD , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Robert Boudreau, PhD , Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Background: To promote healthy aging, the University of Pittsburgh Prevention Research Center (PRC) developed the “10 Keys”TM to Healthy Aging, a bundled health promotion program. The PRC partnered with the Arthritis Foundation (AF) to combine the “10 Keys”TM with the AF Exercise Program (AFEP). The program was designed for older adults with arthritis or joint pain because they are at higher risk for other chronic conditions. Methods: A cluster randomized trial was implemented to compare the combined “10 Keys” TM and AFEP program compared to AFEP alone, and to build sustainability of the program in the community. The collaboration involved combining content, training instructors, and recruiting host sites, instructors, and participants. Sites were matched on key characteristics for stratified randomization. Results: To date, 18 sites have been randomized to the integrated program (7 programs) or AFEP alone (11) with a goal of 40. Sessions have been held twice weekly for 10 weeks with 467 program participants. Of these, 122 consented to a detailed assessment of preventive health behaviors at baseline and follow-up. Research participants were on average 72.4 (± 9.2) years; 84.4% were women, and 98% Caucasian. Feedback was positive with 92% rating the program as excellent or very good. 50% of the sites continued to offer the program after the initial ten weeks. Conclusions: This program delivers bundled health promotion targeting multiple co-morbid conditions to at-risk older adults in the community. Program continuation suggests that it will be sustainable. Impact on preventive health behaviors remains to be tested.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify specific ways an exercise and bundled health promotion program can be delivered. Describe the design, benefits, challenges of a cluster randomized trial design.

Keywords: Aging, Arthritis

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the project director and was actively involved in every aspect of the program. I directly engaged with the participants, instructors, Arthritis Foundation staff, community leaders, PRC director, and research staff throughout the course of the program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4256.3: Health Promotion and Aging