Increasing older adults' physical activity through 'Active For Life', an online intervention with personalised advice

The first intervention group (tailored advice only) will receive the Active For Life Program. The 12-week program consists of six, 30 minute fortnightly sessions of personally tailored advice on the Active For Life website. The personally relevant advice in each session will be based on older adults’ responses to a brief online survey and will use computer algorithms to immediately provide feedback based on participants’ responses. The intervention content will be underpinned by components of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Social Cognitive Theory as both theories have demonstrated their effectiveness in changing health behaviours in older adults. As such, the sessions will deliver physical activity advice tailored to psychosocial correlates (e.g., self-efficacy, social support, barriers), participants’ current physical activity level, participants’ demographics (e.g., age, gender) and health status. In addition to the six personalised sessions, the website will include an optional exercise library with beginner strength, balance and flexibility exercise programs. An optional action planning tool that allows users to create their own physical activity plans will also be included. There will also be a contact and help page where users can ask questions about physical activity or the study. A second intervention group will be given access to the same program, but with Fitbit activity trackers to objectively track their activity. Their personalised physical activity advice will be based on Fitbit data, rather than self-reported physical activity.