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Vol 8 (4) 2020

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LONELINESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN OLDER AGE: RESULTS OF THE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED STUDY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTION FOR LONELINESS (PAIL) IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS (0.6 Mb, pdf) Read
Authors:
Shvedko Anastasia Vitalievna
Keywords:
physical activity
older adults
loneliness
feasibility study
Annotation:

Study objective. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of a Physical Activity Intervention for Loneliness (PAIL) in community-dwelling older adults at risk of loneliness.

Methods. Study design was a 12-week randomized controlled feasibility trial (RCT). Participants were 25 (mean age 68.5(8.05) years, range 60-92) healthy, inactive, community-dwelling older adults at risk for loneliness. The intervention consisted of group outdoor walking sessions with health education workshops once weekly, with a wait-list control condition. Estimation of recruitment, retention and adherence were feasibility outcomes. Body mass index, blood pressure, physical activity, and psychosocial variables were secondary outcomes.

Results. Forty-eight participants were recruited over 4 months with a recruitment rate of 52.1% (25/48); 52% (25/48) met the inclusion criteria and 100% (25/25) were randomized into the intervention (N=12) and wait-listed (WL) control groups (N=13). At 12 weeks, 10/12 (83.3%; 95% CI 55.20 to 95.30) intervention and 10/13 (76.9%; 95% CI 49.74 to 91.82) control participants completed final assessments. The average attendance rate was 69.2% for the intervention group (range 25% – 91.7%) and 55% (range 25% – 91.7%) among controls. The a priori recruitment criteria for progression was not met. The retention rate satisfied the criteria of the study. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions. Community-dwelling older adults at risk of loneliness can safely participate in physical activity intervention for loneliness. However, to progress into a large-scale RCT, the design and methodology would need to be changed.

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