Community Dissemination of Tai Ji Quan

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The overarching objective of this project is to assess the potential public health impact of delivering Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, a proven fall prevention program, through local community dissemination partners (e.g., senior service providers), in the selected counties in the state of Oregon.

Detailed Description
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The program, Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance, developed by ORI scientists (2003; 2004; 2008, a,b) was implemented in this dissemination project. Class duration was 90 minutes, 2-times per week over a 12-month period. During the initial 2 weeks, practice involved learning and performing 2 forms practiced in one set of 8 repetitions (for each form) and increased to a set of 10 repetitions for up to 5 forms between Week 3 and Week 5. Although additional forms were learned as the intervention progressed, starting in Week 6, training focused on 10-12 repetitions of the combination of forms rather than single forms. Once all 8 forms were learned ( Week 10), training was maintained at between 10-15 repetitions of the 8-form routine. Exercise activities were accompanied by music. Each Tai Chi practice session included (a) a 10-15 minute warm-up, (b) 60 minutes of Tai Chi practice, and (c) a 10-minute cool-down period. Instruction comprised (a) learning new movements and (b) reviewing movements learned from previous sessions. In addition, copies of the videotape/DVD and user's guidebook were distributed to all participants who were encouraged to use these materials for additional home practice. All participating individuals were assessed at baseline, 6 months (mid-point), 12 months (intervention termination), and 6 months following the intervention (post-intervention follow-up) on measures of health, fall history, functional ability, and quality-of-life. Each evaluation session lasted about one hour and was conducted by a trained research assessor in various centers where these classes were held.

Official Title
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Translating an Effective Fall Prevention Program Into a Community-Based Practice

Conditions
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Older Adults at Risk of Falling

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Tai Ji Quan


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: (a) 65 years of age or over, (b) physically mobile (i.e., can walk one or two blocks with or without an assistive device), and (c) medical clearance by a healthcare provider. Exclusion Criteria: (a) severe cognitive deficits defined by Mini-Mental State Evaluation, and (b) unable to commit for the 12 month duration of the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Tai Ji Quan<br>Single aim intervention - 2 twice per week for 48 weeks | Behavioral: Tai Ji Quan<br>* single aim intervention<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| adoption - defined as community centers that agree to participate (from the total number of centers approached within the dissemination geographic area) | Target senior centers will be contacted to determine the willingness to adopt the program. | at the study entry | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reach - defined by the total number of older adults agreed to participate | This indicator will be determined at the study on-set by documenting number of individuals who express interest in participating and are eventually enrolled in the program. | study on-set | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Tai Ji Quan, fall prevention, community dissemination