Implementability of a community-based intervention to reduce sedentary time-The EngAge Project

Abstract

This study evaluated the implementability of a 9-week home-based intervention to reduce older adults’ sedentary behavior. The main outcome, implementability, was assessed using eight criteria: adherence, adverse events, completion, engagement, dropouts, quality, training, and user satisfaction. It was hypothesized that completers would meet a minimum cut-off of 5/8 tested with a one-proportion test. Secondary outcomes included changes in physical functions and objectively measured sedentary behavior. Forty-two people participated (age 66 to 75; 74% female). Despite a high number of dropouts (n=18), all completers met six or more implementability criteria, 87% met seven (p=0.01), and 52% all (p=0.84). For completers, two out of three physical function tests showed significant improvement (p < 0.05), along with increased daily steps and upright time (p  0.05). Given the small number of resources needed to deliver the intervention and the high proportion of older people with high sedentary behavior, the intervention could be scaled up.