Community-based Exercise Intervention Research Articles

Effectiveness of community-based Baduanjin exercise intervention for older adults with varying frailty status: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDue to poorer exercise tolerance, it may be challenging for frail older adults to engage in moderate- or vigorous-intensity exercise. While low-intensity exercise interventions may be more feasible, its effectiveness for such population group remains unclear. We examined the effectiveness and implementation of community-based Baduanjin Qigong, a low-intensity exercise program in older adults with varying frailty status.MethodsA two-arm, multicenter assessor-blind parallel group randomized controlled trial was conducted at three local senior activity centers. Fifty-six community-dwelling older adults with low handgrip strength were randomly allocated to either the intervention (IG) or wait-list control (CG) group. The IG underwent a supervised 16-week Baduanjin exercise program at a frequency of 2–3 × 60 min sessions/week. The CG was instructed to maintain their usual activity and received a monthly health education talk. The primary outcome measures were knee extension strength, vital exhaustion, and fear of falling. Secondary outcome measures include physiological falls risk, handgrip strength, gait speed, timed up and go test, 30-second sit-to-stand, quality of life, depression, and frailty. All outcome measures were assessed at baseline and 4-month follow-up.ResultsOverall, there were no statistically significant differences in all outcome measures between CG and IG at 4-month follow-up. However, in exploratory compliance analysis, a statistically significant group x time interaction was found for vital exhaustion (B = -3.65, 95% CI [-7.13, -0.16], p = .047) among participants with at least 75% attendance. In post-hoc within-group comparisons, IG showed improved vital exhaustion by 4.31 points (95% CI [1.41, 7.20], d = 0.60). The average participant attendance rate was 81.3%. No major adverse events occurred, and all participants reported positive experiences with the exercise intervention.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that Baduanjin is a safe, feasible, and acceptable exercise program that can be successfully implemented in community settings for older adults with varying frailty status. With good adherence, Baduanjin exercise could potentially be effective in alleviating vital exhaustion. However, the effectiveness of Baduanjin on physical performance, psychological measures and frailty in community-dwelling older adults remains equivocal.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04549103. Registered September 16, 2020.

Community-based exercises improve health status in pre-frail older adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BackgroundPre-frailty is associated with increased healthcare utilization. Over the past decade, public health interventions such as community-based exercises to target pre-frailty have been increasingly studied. However, the effects of community-based exercises on clinical outcome measures amongst community-dwelling older adults with pre-frailty remain unclear. This review aims to better understand the effects of community-based exercise on physical function, cognition, quality of life and frailty status in community-dwelling pre-frail older adults. A secondary objective was to investigate the optimal exercise parameters on clinical outcomes.MethodsSearches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Web of Science databases were conducted. Articles were included if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and excluded if the participants consist of less than 50% pre-frail community-dwelling older adults. Meta-analyses (where possible) with either a fixed- or random- effect(s) model, standardized mean difference (SMD), odds ratio (OR) and tests of heterogeneity were performed. Multivariable meta-regression was performed to identify predictors of statistically significant outcome measures. The risk of bias was assessed using the modified Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool.ResultsTwenty-two RCTs with 900 participants in the experimental group and 1015 participants in the control group were included. When compared to minimal intervention, community-based exercises significantly improved lower limb strength (10 RCTs, 384 participants in the experimental group and 482 participants in the control group) with SMD 0.67 (95% CI 0.29 to 1.04), and lower limb function (5 RCTs, 120 participants in the experimental group and 219 participants in the control group) with SMD 0.27 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.51). Those who have received community-based exercises were more likely to reverse from pre-frailty to healthy state (OR = 2.74, 95% CI 1.36 to 5.51) (6 RCTs, 263 participants in the experimental group and 281 participants in the control group). The frequency of exercise sessions was a significant predictor of the effect size for gait speed (P<0.05).ConclusionsCommunity-based exercise intervention is superior to minimal intervention for improving health status in pre-frail older adults. This has implications on the implementation of community-based exercise intervention by healthcare providers and policymakers.OtherNil funding for this review. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022348556.

Development of the Fit&Fab Exercise Intervention for Women With Obesity: A Community Advisory Board Informed Process.

Women with higher body mass index report low rates of and face unique barriers to exercise. Increasing exercise participation can improve mental and physical health independent of weight loss; however, most exercise programs targeting this population focus predominately on losing weight. This paper aims to describe the development of Fit&Fab, a community-based exercise intervention focused on increasing exercise participation and enjoyment for women with obesity. In partnership with the YMCA, we recruited women ages 35-64years (body mass index ≥ 30) to participate in 4 focus groups to understand exercise preferences. Formative work was used to identify theory constructs and associated intervention components. Women from the focus groups were recruited for a community advisory board that finalized the intervention design, recruitment, and evaluation plan. Focus groups participants (N = 29) preferred to exercise without men and wanted a cohort-style class that included women of similar exercise levels and body types, incorporated social support, fun activities, and broke exercise into smaller bouts. They wanted a supportive instructor who was fit but understood weight-related challenges. The community advisory board and research team used focus group findings to inform design of the final intervention including group exercise classes, psychosocial support sessions, personalized training, exercise tracking, outcome monitoring, and rewards. Our findings emphasize the need to focus on exercise enjoyment and benefits other than losing weight to improve exercise participation among women with higher body mass index. In addition to having outcomes other than weight loss, exercise interventions with this population should also consider group composition, instructor, and class format.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a cardio-oncology rehabilitation framework compared to an exercise intervention for cancer survivors with high cardiovascular risk.

A cardio-oncology rehabilitation model among cancer survivors showed superior results comparing to a community-based exercise intervention. However, questions remain about its cost-effectiveness. To assess the cost-effectiveness of a center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) program when compared to usual care encompassing a community-based exercise training (CBET), among cancer survivors with high cardiovascular risk. The CORE study was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial; 80 adult cancer survivors with previous exposure to cardiotoxic cancer treatment and/or with previous cardiovascular disease were assigned (1:1 ratio) to an 8-week CBCR or CBET, twice/week. Cost-effectiveness was a pre-specified secondary endpoint. Outcomes included healthcare resource use and costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and cost-effectiveness; incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was computed from a societal perspective. 75 patients completed the study (CBCR N=38; CBET N=37). The CBCR had significantly higher cost per patient (477.76 ± 39.08€) compared to CBET group (339.32 ± 53.88€), with a significant between-group difference 138.44€ (95% CI, 116.82 to 160.05€, p<0.01). A between-group difference by 0.100 points in QALYs was observed, favouring the CBCR (95% CI, -0.163 to -0.037, p=0.002). When CBCR was compared with CBET, the ICER was €1,383.24 per QALY gained; at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €5,000 per QALY, the probability of CBCR being cost-effective was 99.9% (95% CI, 99.4 to 100.0). The CORE trial shows that a CBCR is a cost-effective intervention in the management of cancer survivors with high cardiovascular risk, reinforcing the potential benefits of this multidisciplinary approach in supportive care of this specific subset of cancer patients.

The Effectiveness of Clinician-Led Community-Based Group Exercise Interventions on Health Outcomes in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the combined effects of clinician-led and community-based group exercise interventions on a range of health outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our literature search spanned Medline, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases, focusing on peer-reviewed studies published between January 2003 and January 2023. We included studies involving participants aged 18 years and older and articles published in English, resulting in a dataset of eight studies with 938 participants. Spanning eight peer-reviewed studies with 938 participants, the analysis focused on the interventions' impact on glycemic control, physical fitness, and anthropometric and hematological measurements. Outcomes related to physical fitness, assessed through the six-minute walk test, the 30 s sit-to-stand test, and the chair sit-and-reach test, were extracted from five studies, all of which reported improvements. Anthropometric outcomes from seven studies highlighted positive changes in waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure; however, measures such as body mass index, systolic blood pressure, weight, and resting heart rate did not exhibit significant changes. Hematological outcomes, reviewed in four studies, showed significant improvements in fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, with glycemic control evidenced by reductions in HbA1c levels, yet LDL and HDL cholesterol levels remained unaffected. Ten of the fifteen outcome measures assessed showed significant enhancement, indicating that the intervention strategies implemented may offer substantial health benefits for managing key type 2 diabetes mellitus-related health parameters. These findings in combination with further research, could inform the refinement of physical activity guidelines for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, advocating for supervised group exercise in community settings.

Required elements for an educational programme for lay exercise instructors in charge of community-based exercise targeting young adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders – A stakeholder focus group study

BackgroundExercise plays a crucial role in addressing the increased cardiometabolic morbidity and premature mortality in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. When delivered in community-based settings, exercise may also reduce loneliness, while promoting overall physical activity behaviours. Skilled instructors are essential to deliver effective community-based exercise; however, knowledge about their roles and required training is lacking. We aim to explore various stakeholders’ perspectives regarding lay exercise instructors’ roles, and the required elements in an educational programme supporting the delivery of community-based exercise for young adults with SSD.MethodsWe used semi-structured homogeneous focus groups with representatives from different stakeholder groups (i.e., including representatives of clinical staff within mental health, physiotherapists, exercise instructors, young adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and relatives of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders) targeted or affected by a community-based exercise intervention. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsWe conducted six focus groups comprising a total of 30 individuals representing five different stakeholder groups The analysis identified three categories: (i) awareness and understanding of mental illness, i.e., providing basic knowledge to dispel common myths and stigma regarding mental illness (ii) protecting youth identity, i.e., supporting the feeling of being more than just a patient, and (iii) promoting exercise as a shared activity, i.e., a communal pursuit, fostering personal growth among participants, their peers and the instructors.ConclusionsAn educational programme for lay exercise instructors delivering community-based exercise targeting young adults with SSD should empower the instructors to assume the role of guardians of an inclusive exercise culture. Educational elements identified were adapted and integrated into an educational programme implemented and evaluated as a part of the Vega trial. Our results may be transferable to the education of lay workers in mental health care where the aim is to facilitate sustainable, recreational, community-based activities.

Cost-Effectiveness of Community-Based Diet and Exercise for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis and Obesity or Overweight.

Obesity exacerbates pain and functional limitation in persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In the Weight Loss and Exercise for Communities with Arthritis in North Carolina (WE-CAN) study, a community-based diet and exercise (D + E) intervention led to an additional 6 kg weight loss and 20% greater pain relief in persons with knee OA and body mass index (BMI) >27 kg/m2 relative to a group-based health education (HE) intervention. We sought to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of the usual care (UC), UC + HE, and UC + (D + E) programs, comparing each strategy with the "next-best" strategy ranked by increasing lifetime cost. We used the Osteoarthritis Policy Model to project long-term clinical and economic benefits of the WE-CAN interventions. We considered three strategies: UC, UC + HE, and UC + (D + E). We derived cohort characteristics, weight, and pain reduction from the WE-CAN trial. Our outcomes included quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), cost, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). In a cohort with mean age 65 years, BMI 37 kg/m2, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain score 38 (scale 0-100, 100 = worst), UC leads to 9.36 QALYs/person, compared with 9.44 QALYs for UC + HE and 9.49 QALYS for UC + (D + E). The corresponding lifetime costs are $147,102, $148,139, and $151,478. From the societal perspective, UC + HE leads to an ICER of $12,700/QALY; adding D + E to UC leads to an ICER of $61,700/QALY. The community-based D + E program for persons with knee OA and BMI >27kg/m2 could be cost-effective for willingness-to-pay thresholds greater than $62,000/QALY. These findings suggest that incorporation of community-based D + E programs into OA care may be beneficial for public health.

The Effect of Community-Based Exercise on Health Outcomes for Indigenous Peoples with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review.

Indigenous peoples globally experience a high burden of type 2 diabetes in comparison to non-Indigenous peoples. While community-based exercise interventions designed for type 2 diabetes (T2D) management have garnered success in non-Indigenous populations, they likely require adjustments to meet the needs of Indigenous people. This systematic review aims to determine if health outcomes in Indigenous peoples with T2D could be improved by community-based exercise programmes and the features of those programmes that best meet their needs. The CINAHL, Embase, Informit Indigenous Collection, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus, and Web of Science databases have been searched to identify peer-reviewed literature with original outcome data that report on the health effects of community-based exercise interventions for the management of T2D among Indigenous peoples. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and Indigenous Community Engagement Tool were implemented to assess methodological quality. Three moderate-to-high-quality studies were selected for review, including participants of Polynesian or Native American Zuni Indian descent. Results indicated positive effects of group exercise on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index, body weight, total cholesterol, blood pressure, quality of life, and patient activation levels in high-adhering participants. This review concludes that community-based exercise interventions may improve health outcomes for Indigenous adults with T2D when conducted with strong community engagement.

Experiences and perspectives of integrating nutrition education into an exercise program for people with chronic medical conditions.

Community-based healthy eating and exercise programs are effective interventions to support some people with chronic conditions. This research aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of participants regarding the integration of nutrition education into a successful group based exercise program for people with chronic medical conditions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with past participants of a community based group exercise program (Health Moves) with embedded nutrition advice based in a regional area of New South Wales. A total of 60 individuals who had participated in the Health Moves program between 2017 and 2019 were invited to participate and 19 (32%) randomly selected participants consented to be interviewed. Interviews explored participants' experiences, program impacts, and barriers to sustaining changes post program. Similar concepts and patterns were grouped into themes. Four themes were identified that described the experiences with a community-based group exercise intervention with a nutrition component. The major themes evident were that Health Moves facilitated motivation (via access to health professionals, peer support, accountability, affordability); and there were challenges identified to sustaining change (including cost, comorbidities, end of program support, environmental factors); Nutrition advice was valuable for some but not for all (difficulty recalling nutrition components, superficial coverage) Practical and interactive nutrition advice is desired. Participants expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the program but require ongoing support to sustain changes post program. The position and integration of nutrition education within this exercise program was perceived by participants to be suboptimal. Increased access to practical, interactive nutrition education components may improve participant satisfaction and engagement. SO WHAT?: Key findings from this research include a desire for removal of didactic nutrition education sessions and request for increased peer support. Modifications to the program include the integration of interactive self-paced nutrition modules. Peer support partnerships are now encouraged by trainers to support ongoing motivation of participants to keep training together outside the structured exercise program and transition to managing their own exercise routine. Discussions between organisations involved about ongoing pathway/program support or reduced cost 'off peak' gym membership is underway to help with costs incurred by participants.

Should Caregivers Also Be Included in Multicomponent Physical-Exercise-Based Interventions for People with a Neurocognitive Disorder? The Caregivers' Perspective.

Informal caregivers of people with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) may play a decisive role in guaranteeing partners' participation in community-based physical exercise interventions. However, little is still known about their perspective on being involved in such programs that are specifically designed for their partners. This study aimed to explore the views of caregivers of people with NCDs about taking part in a multicomponent physical exercise intervention with their partners and to explore the perceived impact of this program on those caregivers who enrolled in it. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with 20 caregivers (67.5 ± 13.94 years; seven female) from the "Body & Brain" project. Ten took part in the physical exercise sessions (active-participating caregivers), and the others did not (social-participating caregivers). Data retrieved from semi-structured interviews were analyzed following a thematic analysis approach. Regardless of their participation level, all caregivers reported their inclusion to be important in enhancing their partners' initiation and engagement in the sessions; also, they all identified personal gains. Active-participating caregivers reported exercise-related benefits on general health, enjoyment, and social connectedness. Social-participating caregivers considered this intervention an opportunity for respite and appreciated being involved only occasionally (i.e., occasional gatherings or telephone contacts). The findings support the inclusion of caregivers in physical exercise interventions designed for partners with NCDs, considering their decisive role in the partners' adherence and engagement and due to the perceived gains. Future community-based interventions designed for people with NCDs should consider giving caregivers the opportunity to choose whether they want or not to be actively involved in the exercise sessions. Further studies with larger samples are needed to verify these results, comparing caregivers' point of view at baseline and post-intervention.

Factors influencing initial implementation of an online community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: a systems approach.

Online community-based exercise (CBE) is a digital health intervention and rehabilitation strategy that promotes health among people living with HIV. Our aim was to describe the factors influencing initial implementation of a pilot online CBE intervention with adults living with HIV using a systems approach, as recommended by implementation science specialists. We piloted the implementation of a 6-month online CBE intervention and 6-month independent exercise follow up, in partnership with the YMCA in Toronto, Canada. We recruited adults living with HIV who identified themselves as safe to engage in exercise. The intervention phase included personalized exercise sessions online with a personal trainer; exercise equipment; access to online exercise classes; and a wireless physical activity monitor. Two researchers documented implementation factors articulated by participants and the implementation team during early implementation, defined as recruitment, screening, equipment distribution, technology orientation, and baseline assessments. Data sources included communication with participants; daily team communication; weekly team discussions; and in-person meetings. We documented implementation factors in meeting minutes, recruitment screening notes, and email communication; and analyzed the data using a qualitative descriptive approach using a systems engineering method called Cognitive Work Analysis. Thirty-three adults living with HIV enrolled in the study (n = 33; median age: 52 years; cis-men: 22, cis-women: 10, non-binary: 1). Fifty-five factors influencing implementation, spanned five layers: (i) Natural, including weather and the COVID-19 virus; (ii) Societal, including COVID-19 impacts (e.g. public transit health risks impacting equipment pick-ups); (iii) Organizational, including information dissemination (e.g. tech support) and logistics (e.g. scheduling); (iv) Personal, including physical setting (e.g. space) and digital setting (e.g. device access); and (v) Human, including health (e.g. episodic illness) and disposition (e.g. motivation). The implementation team experienced heightened needs to respond rapidly; sustain engagement; and provide training and support. Additional organizational factors included a committed fitness training and research team with skills spanning administration and logistics, participant engagement, technology training, physical therapy, and research ethics. Fifty-five factors spanning multiple layers illustrate the complexities of online CBE with adults living with HIV. Initial implementation required a dedicated, rehabilitation-centred, multi-skilled, multi-stakeholder team to address a diverse set of factors.

Community-based exercise and nutritional interventions to improve frailty syndrome among older adults: A quasi-experimental study

This study aimed to explore the efficacy of single and combined effects of exercise and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements on improving frailty and quality of life in older adults. In total, 120 study participants were allocated into a combined exercise-and-BCAA supplementation group, an exercise-only group, a BCAA supplementation-only group, and a control group. Results showed that Fried's frailty score significantly decreased in the combined exercise-and-BCAA supplementation group (β= -1.73, p<0.001), exercise-only group (β= -1.68, p<0.001), and BCAA supplementation-only group (β= -0.73, p=0.005) compared to the control group. Moreover, the combination of exercise and BCAA supplements and the exercise-only program produced significant improvements in frailty compared to the BCAA supplement-only group and control group (p<0.05). Exercise should be a critical approach for older adults to improve frailty. Healthcare professionals in geriatric care should incorporate exercise programs as frailty management and prevention for older adults.

Wireless physical activity monitor use among adults living with HIV in a community-based exercise intervention study: a quantitative, longitudinal, observational study

ObjectivesOur aim was to examine wireless physical activity monitor (WPAM) use and its associations with contextual factors (age, highest education level, social support and mental health) among adults living with...

Piloting an online telecoaching community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: protocol for a mixed-methods implementation science study

IntroductionOur aim is to evaluate the implementation of an online telecoaching community-based exercise (CBE) intervention with the goal of reducing disability and enhancing physical activity and health among adults living...

Effect of home-based exercise on falls in community-dwelling older adults: an umbrella review.

AimsThe aim of this review study was to examine the effectiveness of home-based and community-based exercise programmes in the rate of falls and improving physical functioning in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsAll types of home-based and community-based exercise interventions were searched. From 1186 studies identified, 14 studies were selected for the umbrella review. Most studies had high methodological quality. The types of interventions were multi-functional programmes (n = 11 studies) and Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) (n = 3 studies).ResultsThe results showed that home-based and community-based exercise interventions can reduce falls by 22–32%. Studies that included meta-analysis showed that the clinical significance of home-based interventions in fall prevention and improving physical function was moderate to high.ConclusionsIn conclusion, home-based and community-based exercise interventions are a safe, effective, and feasible method of fall prevention that could be implemented with minimum supervision by allied health professionals to maximise autonomy, self-efficacy, and adherence in community-dwelling older adults.

Can Health Improvements from a Community-Based Exercise and Lifestyle Program for Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Be Maintained? A Follow up Study

Background: Older people consistently report a desire to remain at home. Beat It is a community-based exercise and lifestyle intervention that uses evidence-based strategies to assist older people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to improve physical and functional fitness, which are crucial to maintain independence. This follow up, real-world study assessed the efficacy of Beat It and whether older adults with T2DM were able to maintain improvements in physical activity, waist circumference and fitness one year post completion. Methods: We have previously reported methods and results of short-term outcomes of Beat It. This paper reports anthropometric measurements and physical fitness outcomes of Beat it at 12-months post program completion and compares them to validated standards of fitness required to retain physical independence. Results: Improvements that were observed post program were maintained at 12 months (n = 43). While the number of participants who met fitness standards increased post program, not all increases were maintained at 12 months. Conclusions: This study provides promising early evidence that an eight-week, twenty-hour community-based clinician-led exercise and lifestyle program can improve health outcomes in older adults with T2DM which were retained for at least a year after program completion.

Considerations for developing and implementing an online community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: a qualitative study

ObjectivesTo describe the need for, and utility of, online community-based exercise (CBE) interventions with adults living with HIV and identify factors to consider in developing and implementing an online CBE...

Connecting the past to the present: A historical review of exercise training for peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a prevalent manifestation of atherosclerosis, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as well as decreased functional ability. Exercise training for PAD is acknowledged to be a highly effective treatment, which improves walking ability and cardiovascular risk. The historical development of this treatment has not been the focus of a report. Therefore, we present a historical review of research on exercise training for PAD. Overall, this body of knowledge has provided strong evidence of the efficacy of supervised exercise training (SET) to improve walking ability for patients with claudication due to PAD. SET, using intermittent bouts of walking exercise to moderate claudication pain on a treadmill, is considered the most efficacious mode of exercise to improve walking ability in patients with claudication. This compelling evidence published over the past 60 years was evaluated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2017, which culminated in a national coverage determination for SET to improve symptomatic PAD. Future directions include determining optimal delivery strategies for SET and further elucidation of the mechanisms of improvement in walking ability resulting from SET. In addition, alternative forms of exercise should be evaluated and effective home- and community-based exercise interventions should be assessed. There is an enormous need to increase the inclusion of women and racial and ethnic minority groups in studies. It is to be hoped that researchers will continue with new innovative research and persistence in the treatment of claudication due to PAD.

Caregivers’ perception about their participation in a community-based exercise intervention - Body &amp; Brain Project

Evidence is scarce on caregivers’ perception regarding their participation in exercise interventions targeting individuals with neurocognitive disorder (NCD). This study aims to investigate the views of family caregivers of people with NCD about taking part in a community-based physical exercise intervention with their care-recipients. Twenty caregivers (N Male: 13; 66.5 ± 14.39 years old; age range: 36-88) answered to a semi-structured interview conducted by telephone about their perception on participating or not as class members of a 6-month multicomponent training intervention. Transcribed data from the interview were analyzed through thematic analysis. Main themes regard their perceived key-role in the care recipients’ participation, which included knowing their limitations, making them feel accompanied and motivated, and the possibility of providing comfort and tranquility throughout the intervention. Caregivers also mentioned the possibility of fulfilling own needs for physical activity and being engaged in new experiences. Disturbing the care recipients’ involvement and performance, the opportunity for respite during the sessions’ time, and being enrolled in the program only in specific moments or by telephone were also mentioned. Findings highlight the inclusive perspective of caregivers to take part of exercise programs designed for people with NCD, not only due to their decisive role on care-recipients engagement but also due to the associated (in-/)direct personal benefits. This data may be useful for planning and prescribing future community-based exercise interventions for NCD caregiving dyads. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT04095962. Supported by FCT: “Body and Brain” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031808), CIAFEL (FCT/UIDB/00617/2020), and Ph.D. Grants (SFRH/BD/136635/2018) to FM (2020.05911.BD) to DB.

Construct Validity and Responsiveness of the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity in Adults Living With HIV

ObjectiveTo evaluate the construct validity and responsiveness of the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) for measuring physical activity (PA) in adults living with HIV. DesignSecondary analysis of an interrupted time-series intervention study. SettingCommunity-based fitness facility in Toronto, Canada. ParticipantsSixty-seven adults (N=67) living with HIV (n=5 women; mean age, 51.8±11.6 years) with available baseline data to assess for construct validity of the RAPA, of which 50 (n=4 women; age, 53.2±11.4 years) had follow-up data to evaluate responsiveness. InterventionsTwo months of a community-based exercise intervention involving thrice weekly multicomponent exercises. Main Outcome MeasuresWe used a single-item PA questionnaire as a convergent outcome to the RAPA, while peak oxygen consumption, general health status, and number of concurrent health conditions were divergent outcomes. We tested 11 a priori hypotheses (6 construct validity, 5 responsiveness) using Spearman ρ, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Cohen's d, standardized effect size (SES), and standardized response mean (SRM). We considered acceptable construct validity and responsiveness if >75% of hypotheses were confirmed. ResultsAll of the hypotheses (100%) for construct validity were confirmed. The RAPA demonstrated moderate correlations with the single-item PA questionnaire (ρ=0.61), and negligible correlations with divergent outcome measures (ρ=0.08-0.21). Two of the 5 hypotheses (40.0%) for responsiveness were confirmed. RAPA scores were significantly greater after 2 months of training (P<.001) and demonstrated a small to moderate effect size (d=0.50, SES=0.47, SRM=0.48). There was a low correlation between change in RAPA scores and change in single-item PA questionnaire scores (ρ=0.48). ConclusionsThe RAPA demonstrated acceptable construct validity and poor responsiveness in adults living with HIV. Therefore, the RAPA can be used cross-sectionally but may be used in conjunction with other measures of PA for adults living with HIV.