Clinical trial NCT00473044: An Intervention to Increase Physical Activity Among African American Women
Official title: An Intervention to Increase Physical Activity Among African American Women
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sedentary Lifestyle
Inactivity
Lead sponsor: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Sponsor class: NIH
First posted: 2007-05-14
Enrollment: 104
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a faith-based curriculum delivered in small groups, and emphasizing goal setting along with mutual responsibility, increases physical activity.

Detailed description: Sedentary lifestyles are common among older adults in the United States, especially among minority women. Regular physical activity in older adults has been shown to prevent falls, maintain functional status, prevent both dementia and osteoporosis, and decrease mortality. A review of the literature has shown that current research approaches using exercise classes as the only means of behavior change are ineffective and do not produce long-term sustainable improvement. This study is testing a culturally appropriate behavior modification intervention using 1) group prayer, 2) the development of social support and mutual responsibility for exercise, and 3) group problem solving activities to increase aerobic and strength-related activities among older African American women.

Participants randomized into the intervention arm receive a 45-minute curriculum session and a 45 minute exercise class, while those randomized into the control arm receive a 45 minute session of interactive lectures on unrelated health topics along with the 45 minute exercise class. The exercise class includes both aerobic exercise and strength training using hand-held weights.

Data is collected from pedometers worn by participants, as well as from questionnaires before and after the intervention. Blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol are measured before and after the intervention.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age greater than 60 years
* Female
* African American

Exclusion Criteria:

* Use of walker for ambulation
* Positive response on a modified Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, indicating potential risk of engaging in activity
* Withdrawal by primary physician

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in weekly steps walked as measured by pedometer
timeFrame: 10 weeks and 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in weekly metabolic equivalents expended in physical activity
timeFrame: 10 weeks and 6 months
measure: Change in blood pressure, weight, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
timeFrame: 10 weeks and 6 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Los Angeles
country: United States
facility: University of California, Los Angeles
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
name: Obidiugwu Kenrik Duru, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Dunn AL, Blair SN. Translating evidenced-based physical activity interventions into practice. The 2010 challenge. Am J Prev Med. 2002 May;22(4 Suppl):8-9. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(02)00432-4. No abstract available.
citation: American College of Sports Medicine. Physical activity programs and behavior counseling in older adult populations. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Nov;36(11):1997-2003. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000145451.08166.97.
citation: Brawley LR, Rejeski WJ, King AC. Promoting physical activity for older adults: the challenges for changing behavior. Am J Prev Med. 2003 Oct;25(3 Suppl 2):172-83. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(03)00182-x.