Abstract
BackgroundResearch translating the evidence for the benefit of mind-body exercise in older Latinos with limited access to community-based healthy aging programs is sparse.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of Function Improvement Exercises for Older Sedentary Community-Dwelling Latino Residents (FITxOlder), a Community Health Worker (CHW)-led, mobile technology-facilitated Chinese Qigong mind-body exercise program for healthy aging and to explore its impact on physical and cognitive function and quality of life (QoL) in older community-dwelling low-income Latino adults.MethodsThis study was designed as a Stage 1 feasibility study to develop and pilot-test FITxOlder. In Phase 1 (Stage 1A), a working group of seniors, CHWs, and senior center staff guided the adaptation of Chinese Qigong into a healthy aging program. In Phase 2 (Stage 1B), 49 older Latino adults participated in a 3-arm controlled study to test the feasibility and preliminary effect of CHW-led FITxOlder on physical and cognitive function and QoL measures over 16 weeks.ResultsAlthough the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the implementation of the study protocol, we found favorable results regarding participant recruitment, retention, and fidelity of implementation. Notable findings included an 89.3% participant retention, 79.4% of the participants completed at least 70% of the weekly exercise goal, and no report of adverse events. The effects on intervention outcome measures were modest.ConclusionsFITxOlder is feasible for promoting healthy aging in older Latino adults; future research needs to compare its feasibility with other low-impact exercise programs for healthy aging using a randomized controlled trial.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04284137; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04284137
Highlights
Latinos/Hispanics aged 65 years and older are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group and the most overrepresented low socioeconomic status population in the United States [1]
FITxOlder is feasible for promoting healthy aging in older Latino adults; future research needs to compare its feasibility with other low-impact exercise programs for healthy aging using a randomized controlled trial
Indiscriminate cross-cultural adaptation of evidence-based interventions exercise-induced feeling inventory (EFI) (EBI) may reduce effectiveness and impede sustainability [31,32]. To address this knowledge gap, we evaluated the feasibility of a Qigong healthy aging program in community-dwelling low-income Latino adults with chronic health conditions following the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Stage Model [33]
Summary
Latinos/Hispanics aged 65 years and older are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group and the most overrepresented low socioeconomic status population in the United States [1]. Aging is associated with deteriorating health conditions, and 80.1% of Americans aged 65 years and older have 2 or more chronic conditions that further exacerbate ADL impairment and social and cognitive functions [3]. Regular participation in physical activity (PA) is an effective approach to reducing the risk of chronic conditions and promoting healthy aging and independent living [6], the majority of older Americans do not meet the recommended level of PA [1], and over a quarter of older Latino adults do not participate in adequate PA, including leisure-time PA [7]. Ongoing efforts have considered the health conditions, previous PA habits and experiences, cultural preferences, social support, convenience, accessibility, and use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to promote PA in community-dwelling older adults [8,9], with mixed results [10]. Research translating the evidence for the benefit of mind-body exercise in older Latinos with limited access to community-based healthy aging programs is sparse
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