Physical Activity Levels of Older Persons Admitted to Transitional Care Programs: An Accelerometer-Based Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the level of physical activity (PA) of older persons at admission and discharge from a Transitional Care Program (TCP) and to examine the correlation between changes in functional outcomes and PA level. Forty-two subjects recruited from two metropolitan TCPs in Brisbane, Australia. On admission to a TCP and within two weeks following hospital discharge, clients were requested to wear an accelerometer for the 7-day period after entry and prior to discharge from TCP. The median (IQR) length of the TCP stay was 56 (43–76) days. On admission, participants spent 1224 (IQR 113.5–1279.7) minutes sitting or lying, 173 (IQR 135.2–249) minutes standing, and 35 (IQR 22.0–54.0) minutes walking per day; while at discharge participants (n = 32) spent 1165.5 (IQR 1112.5–1220.7) minutes lying or sitting (p < .05), 212 (IQR 166.0–264,0) minutes standing (p = .05), and 45.5 (IQR 39.0–65.0) minutes walking (p < .001)] a day. The difference in walking time at admission and discharge is strongly correlated with a change in the Modified Barthel Index (Spearman’s rho = 0.6, p < .001). The implementation of strategies to reduce sedentary time and change clients’ behavior should be considered through promoting PA for TCP clients.