Physical Activity Promotion in Primary Health Care Settings

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
A quasi experimental study evaluating the effectiveness of a walking program at primary health care settings in a low-income area

Detailed Description
-----------------
There is a high prevalence of physical inactivity (AF) in the world and in Brazil. Offering programs of physical activity becomes a convenient option to increase the physical activity level of the population and promote aging process more active and healthy over the life. There is need for greater depth in relation to the operation of programs to promote physical activity and the effects of these programs on different biopsychosocial aspects, especially those offered in primary care settings. This research aims to evaluate a walking program geared to adults and seniors on the following aspects: Characteristics and operation of the intervention, effects of behavior change to physical activity, and biopsychosocial effects of physical activity. It is a quasi experimental and controlled study, with: 1) intervention group (n = 71), 2) and control group (n = 71). The intervention will last for six months, with a subsequent follow-up period of six months after the intervention. The program will offer supervised exercise twice a week, lasting an hour. The classes will consist of recreational activities, walking and educational strategies of behavior change for physical activity. Variables will be evaluated for attendance, barriers to physical activity, waiver reasons, physical activity level, sociodemographic, socioeconomic and biopsychosocial aspects. Most females, aged over 40 years, low levels of education, income and varied biopsychosocial characteristics are expected. After the intervention, it is expected that the program present characteristics of low adhesion and retention, especially because of the barrier lack of time. Still, the promotion of supervised walking increase levels of physical activity beyond the time provided by the program and it will improve the biopsychosocial conditions of the participants.

Official Title
-----------------
Promoting Physical Activity for Vulnerable Adults and Elderly People: Evaluation of a Walking Program in Primary Care Settings

Conditions
-----------------
Motor Activity

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Walking program


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: To be insufficiently active To accept the intervention invitation Living around the selected primary health care To sign the Term os Consent To have 18 years or more Exclusion Criteria: To participate only in one day of intervention To have less than 75% of presence in the intervention To give up of the intervention

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 100 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention Group<br>A group of people who participated in the walking program during a six month period. This group also received an educational material and attended meetings for behavioral change strategies. | Behavioral: Walking program<br>* To encourage people to exercise more through a behavioural and educational intervention during six months and other six months of follow up.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>A group of people who did not receive the educational material and did not participated in any of the activities offered by the research team, such as walking classes and meetings for behavioral change. | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subjective evaluation of physical activity level evaluated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire | Physical activity level evaluated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire | six months | 
| Objective evaluation of physical activity level evaluated through accelerometer device | Physical activity level evaluated through accelerometer device | six months | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Low income population, Motor Activity, Primary Health Care