Abstract
BackgroundIt remains unclear how physical activity (PA) interventions need to be designed to reach older adults and to be widely accepted in this target group. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptance of a web-based PA program, including individual intervention components as well as relevant contextual factors, and to specify requirements for future interventions.MethodsTwo hundred sixty-six participants of a PA intervention completed a questionnaire covering individual program components (content, structure, and context). Further, 25 episodic guided interviews focusing on reasons for (non-) participation were conducted with 8 participants and 17 non-participants. Following qualitative content analysis, different requirements were identified and organized based on the social-ecological model, resulting in a profile of requirements.ResultsBased on the participants’ and non-participants’ statements, six different levels of requirements affecting acceptance of and successful participation in a web-based PA intervention were identified. The individual fit was influenced by an interaction of different factors at the intrapersonal, sociocultural, content, spatial, digital and organizational levels. Several age- and gender-specific requirements were noted in the interviewed older adults. Men and women, as well as younger (< 70 years) and older (≥70 years) adults differed in terms of perceived enjoyment and benefits of socializing while exercising together, the time expenditure perceived to be acceptable, previous digital skills, as well as in perceptions that ambience and accessibility of exercise facilities in the neighborhood were important.ConclusionsTo motivate older adults to engage in PA and address different needs in terms of life circumstances and quality of life as well as differences in technical affinity, different requirement profiles should be included in the process of intervention development and implementation. Participatory development loops and modular offer formats are recommended for this.
Highlights
It remains unclear how physical activity (PA) interventions need to be designed to reach older adults and to be widely accepted in this target group
To motivate older adults to engage in PA and address different needs in terms of life circumstances and quality of life as well as differences in technical affinity, different requirement profiles should be included in the process of intervention development and implementation
Data assessment The starting point of this qualitative research were the two studies PROMOTE [31] and Ready to Change (RTC) [32], which were both subprojects of the prevention research network Physical activity and health equity: primary prevention for healthy ageing (AEQUIPA) [33] funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Summary
It remains unclear how physical activity (PA) interventions need to be designed to reach older adults and to be widely accepted in this target group. Due to the increased use and acceptance of the internet and mobile end devices in older adults [7, 8], web-based interventions for PA promotion are increasingly adopted in health promotion. These have been shown to be effective over the short-term [9, 10]
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