The Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Activity Profiles in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Nathaniel Johnson,Jane Johnson,Lance Johnson,Adam Bradley,Sherri Stastny,Diane K Ehlers,Ryan Mcgrath,Lukus Klawitter,Grant R Tomkinson,Kyle J Hackney

doi:10.3390/geriatrics6030068

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health concern for older adults. Telehealth presents a safe platform for conducting health-related interventions that may have additional benefits such as widespread reach. Our pilot study sought to examine how a telehealth intervention changed activity profiles in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: There were n = 13 adults aged 70.6 ± 4.5 years that participated in a 6 week telehealth intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The didactic intervention contents were shared online, and participants worked with trained interviewers over the telephone to discuss physical activity. At baseline and post-intervention, the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults examined activity profiles, while accelerometry estimated time spent sedentary and in physical activity. Results: Relative to the baseline measures, there was an 88 min/day (95% confidence interval (CI): 39, 137) increase in computer time and 36 min/day (CI: 10, 62) reduction in time spent in active transport at post-intervention. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity participation also increased by an estimated 2 min/day (CI: −21, 26) and 12 min/week (CI: −154, 180), but this trend was not statistically significant. Conclusion: We recommend that support be provided to older adults transitioning to telehealth, especially as migration to telehealth progresses.

Highlights

Healthy lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity participation are robustly associated with successful aging and delayed all-cause mortality [1,2]
These increases were compensated by a 36 min/day (CI: 10, 62) reduction in time spent in active transport
Note: CI = confidence interval; LPA = light physical activity; MVPA = moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; SB = sedentary behavior. This 6 week pilot telehealth intervention that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that older adults spent approximately 88 more min/day working and studying in front of a computer, and approximately 36 less min/day engaging in active transport

Summary

Introduction

Healthy lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity participation are robustly associated with successful aging and delayed all-cause mortality [1,2]. The COVID-19 pandemic may have especially exacerbated physical inactivity in older adults. Older adults engaged in higher sedentary behaviors, lower physical activity participation, and reported a decline in their physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic [4,5]. Interventions that help older adults safely overcome barriers to physical activity participation are urgently needed to help maintain physical health and successful aging [6]. Previous studies that have utilized telehealth for delivering wellness interventions have found that older adults valued this platform and used the internet for researching health-related information [8,9]. Our pilot study sought to examine how a telehealth intervention changed activity profiles in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: We recommend that support be provided to older adults transitioning to telehealth, especially as migration to telehealth progresses

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion