Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The California active aging community grant program: Translating science Into practice to promote physical activity in older adults

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: Attempts to study the translation of evidence-based physical activity interventions in community settings are scarce.Purpose: This project was an investigation of whether 13 diverse local lead agencies could effectively implement a choice-based, telephone-assisted physical activity promotion program for older adults based on intervention models proven efficacious in research settings.Methods: At baseline, participants developed their own physical activity programs through an individualized planning session based on preference, health status, readiness to change, and available community resources. Thereafter, participants received regular telephone calls over a 1-year period from a trained staff member or volunteer support buddy. Additional program components consisted of health education workshops, newsletters, and group-based physical activities. Self-report data on caloric expenditure due to all and moderate or greater intensity physical activities were collected from 447 participants (M age = 68 ± 8.6 years).Results: A significant increase (p ≤ .0001) from baseline to midintervention and intervention endpoint was observed for total weekly caloric expenditure (Mdn change = 644–707 kcal/week) and moderate or greater weekly caloric expenditure (Mdn change = 149–265 kcal/week), as well as for weekly physical activity duration and frequency. These changes were observed in participants across all sites.Conclusions: The increases in weekly caloric expenditure were commensurate with findings from several previous randomized clinical trials. The utilization of community agency staff and volunteers receiving basic training to implement essential program components proved feasible. Very favorable levels of program satisfaction expressed by community staff, volunteer support buddies, and participants, combined with the significant increases in physical activity, warrant further dissemination of the intervention model.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Crespo CJ, Keteyian SJ, Heath GW, Sempos CT: Leisure-time physical activity among US adults.Archives of Internal Medicine. 1996,156:93–98.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Yusuf HR, Croft JB, Giles WH, et al.: Leisure-time physical activity among older adults.Archives of Internal Medicine. 1996,156:1321–1326.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kahn EB, Ramsey LT, Brownson RC, et al.: The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity: A systematic review.American Journal of Preventative Medicine. 2002,22(4S):73–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Glasgow RE, Lichtenstein E, Marcus AC: Why don't we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition.American Journal of Public Health. 2003,93:1261–1267.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Glasgow RE, Klesges LM, Dzewaltowski DA, et al.: The future of health behavior change research: What is needed to improve translation of research into health promotion practice?Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2004,27:3–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. King AC, Rejeski WJ, Buchner DM: Physical activity interventions targeting older adults: A critical review and recommendations.American Journal of Preventative Medicine. 1998,15:316–333.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Castro CM, King AC: Telephone-assisted counseling for physical activity.Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 2002,30:64–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. King AC, Haskell WL, Young DR, et al.: Long-term effects of varying intensities and formats of physical activity on participation rates, fitness, and lipoproteins in men and women aged 50 to 65 years.Circulation. 1995,91:2596–2604.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. King AC, Pruitt LA, Phillips WT, et al.: Comparative effects of two physical activity programs on measured and perceived physical functioning and other health-related quality of life outcomes in older adults.Journal of Gerontology. 2000,55A:M74-M83.

    Google Scholar 

  10. King AC, Taylor CB, Haskell WL: Effects of differing intensities and formats of 12 months of exercise training on psychological outcomes in older adults.Health Psychology. 1993,12:292–300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Stewart AL, Mills KM, Sepsis PG, et al.: Evaluation of CHAMPS, a physical activity promotion program for older adults.Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 1997,19:353–361.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stewart AL, Verboncoeur CJ, McLellan BY, et al.: Physical activity outcomes of CHAMPS II: A physical activity promotion program for older adults.Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. 2001,56A:M465-M470.

    Google Scholar 

  13. King AC, Kiernan M, Oman R, et al.: Can we identify who will adhere to long-term physical activity? Signal detection methodology as a potential aid to clinical decision making.Health Psychology. 1997,16:380–389.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. DeBusk RF, Haskell WL, Miller NH, et al.: Medically directed at-home rehabilitation soon after clinically uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction: A new model for patient care.American Journal of Cardiology. 1985,55:251–257.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Stewart AL, King AC, Haskell WL: Endurance exercise and health-related quality of life in 50–65 year-old adults.Gerontologist. 1993,33:782–789.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. King AC, Baumann K, O’Sullivan P, et al.: Effects of moderate-intensity exercise on physiological, behavioral, and emotional responses to family caregiving: A randomized control trial.Journal of Gerontology. 2002,57A:M26-M36.

    Google Scholar 

  17. King AC, Taylor CB, Haskell WL, Debusk CB: Strategies for increasing early adherence and long-term maintenance to home-based exercise training in healthy middle-aged men and women.American Journal of Cardiology. 1988,61:628–632.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. King AC, Castro C,Wilcox S, et al.: Personal and environmental factors associated with physical activity among different racial-ethnic groups of U.S. middle-aged and older-aged women.Health Psychology. 2000,19:354–364.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wilcox S, King AC, Brassington GS, et al.: Physical activity preferences of middle-aged and older adults: a community analysis.Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 1999,7:386–399.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mills KM, Stewart AL, Sepsis PG, King AC: Consideration of older adults’ preferences for format of physical activity.Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 1997,5:50–58.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shephard RJ: PAR-Q, Canadian Home Fitness Test and exercise screening alternatives.Sports Medicine. 1988,5:185–195.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, et al.: Physical activity and public health: A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American College of Sports Medicine.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1995,273:402–407.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Harada ND, Chiu V, King AC, Stewart AL: An evaluation of three self-report physical activity instruments for older adults.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2001,33:962–970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Stewart AL, Mills KM, King AC, et al.: CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire for older adults: Outcomes for interventions.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2001,33:1126–1141.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Marcus BH, Rakowski W, Rossi JS: Assessing motivational readiness and decision making for exercise.Health Psychology. 1992,11:257–261.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Prochaska JO: A transtheoretical model of behavior change: Learning from mistakes with majority populations. In Becker DM, Hill DR, Jackson JS, et al. (eds),Health Behavior Research in Minority Populations: Access, Design, and Implementation. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 1992, 105–111.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Laird NM, Ware JH: Random-effects models for longitudinal data.Biometrics. 1982, 38:963–974.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bandura A: Social Foundations of Thought and Action. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Dunn A, Marcus B, Kampert J, et al.: Comparison of lifestyle and structured interventions to increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1999,281:327–334.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Napolitano MA, Marcus BH: Targeting and tailoring physical activity information using print and information technologies.Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 2002,30:122–128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Brawley LR, Rejeski WJ, King AC: Promoting physical activity for older adults: The challenges for behavior change.American Journal of Preventative Medicine. 2003,25:172–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Blair SN, Kohl HW, Gordon NF, et al.: How much physical activity is good for health?Annual Review of Public Health. 1992,13:99–126.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. American College of Sports Medicine: ACSM position stand on exercise and physical activity for older adults.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1998,30:992–1008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prevention Research Center, University of South Carolina, USA

    Steven P. Hooker Ph.D.

  2. Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, USA

    William Seavey M.D., M.P.H.

  3. Epidemiology and Health Promotion Section, California Department of Health Services, USA

    Curtiss E. Weidmer M.D., M.P.H.

  4. Division of Biostatistics, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine University of California Davis, USA

    Danielle J. Harvey Ph.D.

  5. Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco

    Anita L. Stewart Ph.D. & Dawn E. Gillis M.S.

  6. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, USA

    Katrina Lennea Nicholl B.S.

  7. School of Medicine, Stanford University, USA

    Abby C. King Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Steven P. Hooker Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. William Seavey M.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Curtiss E. Weidmer M.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Danielle J. Harvey Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anita L. Stewart Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dawn E. Gillis M.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Katrina Lennea Nicholl B.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Abby C. King Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven P. Hooker Ph.D..

Additional information

This project was supported by the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Federation for Aging Research. We thank all of the local program staff and participants for their time and effort.

About this article

Cite this article

Hooker, S.P., Seavey, W., Weidmer, C.E. et al. The California active aging community grant program: Translating science Into practice to promote physical activity in older adults. ann. behav. med. 29, 155–165 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2903_1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2903_1

Keywords

Search

Navigation