Predictors of physical activity at 12 month follow-up after a supervised exercise intervention in postmenopausal women.

Fabiola E Aparicio-Ting,Christine M Friedenreich,Kerry S Courneya,Ashley Schiller,Megan Farris

doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0219-z

Abstract

BackgroundFew studies have examined recreational physical activity (RPA) after participating in a structured exercise intervention. More specifically, little is known about the long-term effects of exercise interventions in post-menopausal women. This study had two objectives: 1) To compare RPA in postmenopausal women in the exercise group and the control group 12 months after the end of the Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention (ALPHA) Trial; and 2) To apply the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to identify predictors of RPA 12 months post-intervention among women in the exercise group.MethodsSelf-reported RPA 12-months post-intervention from a validated questionnaire was used to estimate RPA levels for control group (118/160, 74% response) and exercise group participants (126/160, 79% response). Bivariate analysis was used to compare RPA between exercise and control group participants and to identify TPB variables for multivariate analysis. Logistic regression was applied to TPB data collected from self- administered questionnaires at end of trial by exercise group participants (126/160, 79% response) to identify predictors of long-term RPA.ResultsAt 12 months post-intervention, 62% of women in the exercise group were active compared to 58% of controls (p = 0.52). Of the TPB constructs examined, self-efficacy (OR =2.98 (1.08-8.20)) and behavioural beliefs (OR = 1.46 (1.03-2.06)) were identified as predictors of RPA for exercise group participants.ConclusionsLevels of RPA in the exercise and control groups were comparable 12 months post intervention, indicating that participation in the ALPHA trial was associated with increased physical activity in previously inactive women, regardless of randomization into either the exercise group or in the control group. Exercise interventions that promote self-efficacy and positive behavioural beliefs have the potential to have long-term impacts on physical activity behaviour, although further research is needed to examine additional psychological, social and environmental predictors of long-term RPA in post-menopausal women.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00522262.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0219-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

Few studies have examined recreational physical activity (RPA) after participating in a structured exercise intervention
Study sample Adherence to exercise prescription during the ALPHA Trial has been reported in detail elsewhere [6,17]
Recreational physical activity (RPA) behaviour There was no statistical difference in the proportion of women who were active 12 months post-intervention between randomized groups (Table 1); 62% of women from the exercise group were active compared to 58% of women from the control group

Summary

Introduction

Few studies have examined recreational physical activity (RPA) after participating in a structured exercise intervention. Little is known about the long-term effects of exercise interventions in post-menopausal women. There is relatively little research, regarding how well these populations can sustain levels of activity without the constant support and encouragement embedded within a structured intervention. Research examining physical activity adherence in general has identified a number of factors that facilitate continued activity in women. Social support has been identified as a predictor of long-term physical activity in women [9]. Having friends or family who support participation in regular physical activity, through modelling or as a partner in physical activity, has been associated with long-term adherence [7,10,11]. As individuals successfully initiate physical activity they gain confidence in their ability to be active, encouraging continued participation in physical activity [13]

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Discussion

Conclusion