Abstracts of the Falls Frailty Bone Health 2017.

Abstract

Introduction:A sedentary lifestyle in older individuals is a threat to their future health and one of the leading risk factor for mortality. Home based exercise have been recommended in falls prevention however the effects on adherence or attendance for exercise have been sparsely studied and is both a prerequisite and a challenge for positive health outcomes. Therefore the aim was to study behavioural factors important for long-term exercise adherence to a fall preventive exercise among community-dwelling older persons.Methodology:A total of 114 community dwelling older persons over 75 years of age participated in one of two groups based on; Otago Exercise Programme, OEP (n=58) or the OEP combined with motivational interviewing, MI (OEP+MI) (n=56). Exercise were followed up by exercise diaries reported by the older persons during one-year of exercising. Behaviour measurements at baseline were Readiness to Change, Falls self- efficacy and activity level.Results:Exercising two times per week were accomplished by 47% in the OEP group and 64% in the OEP+MI group. The behavioral factors; activity habits at baseline and exercise supported by MI positively predicted exercise adherence at 52 weeks follow up, odds ratio 3.39 (95% CI, 1.38-8.32) respectively 2.47 (95% CI, 1.11-5.49).Conclusions:Including the behaviour aspects; physical activity habits and exercise in combination with MI positively predicted exercise adherence and are behavioural factors to be considered when striving for fall preventive exercise adherence. Older persons with low activity habits would probably benefit from behaviour change support to overcome barriers for performing fall preventive exercise.