Abstract
The purpose of this formative study was to explore current knowledge and attitudes towards physical activity, as well as perceived barriers, facilitators and opportunities for physical activity participation among older adults living in the community. The findings have subsequently informed the design, delivery and recruitment strategies of a local community physical activity intervention programme which forms part of Sport England's national Get Healthy, Get Active initiative. There is a growing public health concern regarding the amount of time spent in sedentary and physical activity behaviours within the older adult population. Between March and June 2016, 34 participants took part in one of six focus groups as part of a descriptive formative study. A homogenous purposive sample of 28 community dwelling white, British older adults (six male), aged 65-90 years (M=78, SD=7 years) participated in one of five focus group sessions. An additional convenience pragmatic sub-sample of six participants (three male), aged 65-90 years (M=75, SD=4 years), recruited from an assisted living retirement home participated in a sixth focus group. Questions for focus groups were structured around the PRECEDE stage of the PRECEDE-PROCEDE model of health programme design, implementation and evaluation. Questions addressed knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards physical activity, as well as views on barriers and opportunities for physical activity participation. All data were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was then conducted with outcomes represented as pen profiles. Consistent views regarding both the potential physical and psychosocial benefits of physical activity were noted regardless of living status. The themes of, opportunities and awareness for physical activity participation, cost, transport, location and season/weather varied between participants living in an assisted living retirement home and community dwelling older adults. Further comparative research on the physical activity requirements of older adults living in assisted living versus community settings are warranted.
Highlights
In the United Kingdom there are over 11 million older adults aged 65 years and over who make up 18% of the population (UK Office for National Statistics, 2017)
These results suggest educational strategies outlining the potential benefits of technology in aiding physical activity (PA) participation are needed (Bird et al, 2015)
Older adults acknowledged the benefits of PA, for health and those relating to socialising, enjoyment, relaxation, and physical and psychological well-being
Summary
In the United Kingdom there are over 11 million older adults aged 65 years and over who make up 18% of the population (UK Office for National Statistics, 2017). Prolongation of life remains an important public health goal, of even greater significance is that extended life should involve preservation of the capacity to live independently, function well and quality of life (Rejeski et al, 2013). The purpose of this formative descriptive study was to explore current knowledge and attitudes towards physical activity (PA), as well as perceived barriers, facilitators and opportunities for PA participation among older adults living in the community. Spending on average 80% of their time in a seated posture, and with 67% being sedentary for more than 8.5 h/day (Shaw et al, 2017), older adults are the most sedentary segment of society and seldom engage in moderate-to-vigorous PA (Chastin et al, 2017)
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