The effects of health coaching with accelerometer feedback on physical inactivity in older people at risk of falls

SMART-MOVE Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) Goal-setting coaching and technology support to reduce older people’s sedentary time (MOVE) 1.. Materials - Participants will receive: • The ‘Choose Health: Be Active’ booklet developed by the Australian Government in collaboration with Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Department of Health and Aging to help older Australians achieve sufficient physical activity for good health as they age. • An accelerometer to record physical activity for a week (at week 1, 12 and 24). • A pedometer to record daily step counts to be worn for first 12 weeks during waking hours. • A SMART goal-setting booklet to document their goals to reduce sedentary behaviour and daily step counts as per pedometer 2. Procedures Face-to-face coaching with goal setting will occur after accelerometer reading is available at the start of the study. A second face-to-face coaching will occur at week 6. The approximate duration of the coaching session will be 1 hour and 30 min for the first and 30-45 min for the second. Telephone interviews will occur fortnightly on four occasions (week 2, 4, 8, and 10) to identify barriers and assist participants to achieve their physical activity goals. Telephone interviews will be approximately 15 minutes. 3. Who provide the health coaching A medical practitioner will deliver the face-to-face coaching and telephone interview interventions 4. How The intervention will be tailored to suit the participant daily activities. SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) goals will be set. At the first face-to-face meeting, participants will set three goals to reduce sedentary behavior. One goal will be incrementally introduced every 2 weeks so that by week 6, the participant will be working on three goals. At the second face-to-face meeting at week 6, the participant will set another three goals that will be added incrementally every fortnight. Participants in the intervention arm will be provided with information about their duration of time spent upright (accelerometer) and total number of steps (pedometer) taken each day. Goals are set to increase their time spent upright and total number of steps taken. Participations will calculate the mean daily steps using the pedometer over 7 days and increase by 200 steps from the mean per week as a goal. They will also be encouraged to attend falls prevention classes if they have not participated in one in the preceding 12 months. 5. Where The intervention will be delivered to community dwelling older people who had falls in the last 12 months or are at risk of one. This coaching sessions will occur in the study centre. 6. When and how much Following baseline assessment, an accelerometer will be worn for one week. After one week, participants will return for a face-to-face coaching where goal setting will occur. This will last approximately 1 hour and 30 min. Participants will be given a pedometer (FitBit) which will be worn on the waist on a daily basis during waking time for the first 12 weeks. Participants will be provided a diary to record their daily step counts. At week 6, a second face-to-face coaching will be conducted where goals will be reviewed and additional goals set (30-45 min in duration). Phone interviews will occur for up to 15 minutes fortnightly on week 2, 4, 8, 10. Participants will wear the accelerometer at week 12 for one week. After one week, they will return for a final assessment. No intervention will be conducted from week 13 to week 24. At week 24, participants will be required to wear the accelerometer again for 1 week and assessed at the end of 1 week for retention of the intervention. Intervention adherence will be assessed by participants' self-reporting and interviews (face-to-face and telephone) with researchers. Participants will be provided with a diary to record their daily pedometer step counts and steps taken to achieve their target to reduce sedentary behaviour. Diary will be checked at week 6 and week 12. Phone interviews will also be used to assess intervention adherence. 7. Tailoring The recommended physical activity plan will be tailored to individual needs based on participants’ goals, baseline levels, preferences and physical ability.