A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial
Abstract Background The Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial showed that a workshop and 10-week park-based outdoor walk group (OWG) was superior to the workshop and 10 weekly reminders (WR) with increasing walking capacity, but not outdoor walking activity, health-promo...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05611-z |
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| author | Kristina M. Kokorelias Jacquie Ripat Ruth Barclay C. Allyson Jones Nancy E. Mayo Theresa Grant Stephanie Scodras Kyla Alsbury-Nealy Charlotte Ryder-Burbidge Nancy M. Salbach |
| author_facet | Kristina M. Kokorelias Jacquie Ripat Ruth Barclay C. Allyson Jones Nancy E. Mayo Theresa Grant Stephanie Scodras Kyla Alsbury-Nealy Charlotte Ryder-Burbidge Nancy M. Salbach |
| author_sort | Kristina M. Kokorelias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial showed that a workshop and 10-week park-based outdoor walk group (OWG) was superior to the workshop and 10 weekly reminders (WR) with increasing walking capacity, but not outdoor walking activity, health-promoting behavior, or successful aging, among older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. The objective of this planned process evaluation was to explore participants’ perceptions of mechanisms of impact of and contextual factors influencing experiences with the interventions to help explain the observed intervention effects on study outcomes. Methods A qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured interviews conducted at 6-months post-baseline was conducted. A directed content analysis was undertaken. Participants We interviewed 27 adults (52% male, 48% female, mean age 76 years) from the OWG (n = 13) and WR group (n = 14). Results We identified two themes including: “Holding Me Accountable to Walk More Frequently”, and “We Walked Farther, With More Ease and Confidence, and We Felt Better”. Participants in both groups described how the OWG and WR programs provided some degree of structure and accountability to others that increased their motivation to walk outdoors. Participants described how the OWG led to improved walking capacity (e.g., increased walking distance) and confidence. Interacting with people during OWG sessions led to a sense of enjoyment, and well-being. Conclusions Community programs that incorporate structure, accountability, and opportunities for social interaction, can help improve motivation to increase outdoor walking activity and a sense of belonging for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. Park-based OWG programs appear to convey additional important benefits related to improved physical function and well-being. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03292510 Date of registration: September 25, 2017. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-113eff174a3941769720f0c2bf9632fb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-113eff174a3941769720f0c2bf9632fb2025-01-12T12:38:31ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-01-0125111310.1186/s12877-024-05611-zA park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trialKristina M. Kokorelias0Jacquie Ripat1Ruth Barclay2C. Allyson Jones3Nancy E. Mayo4Theresa Grant5Stephanie Scodras6Kyla Alsbury-Nealy7Charlotte Ryder-Burbidge8Nancy M. Salbach9Department of Medicine, Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and University Health NetworkDepartment of Occupational Therapy, University of ManitobaDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of ManitobaDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of AlbertaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill UniversityBruyère Research InstituteRehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of TorontoRehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of TorontoDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of AlbertaRehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of TorontoAbstract Background The Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial showed that a workshop and 10-week park-based outdoor walk group (OWG) was superior to the workshop and 10 weekly reminders (WR) with increasing walking capacity, but not outdoor walking activity, health-promoting behavior, or successful aging, among older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. The objective of this planned process evaluation was to explore participants’ perceptions of mechanisms of impact of and contextual factors influencing experiences with the interventions to help explain the observed intervention effects on study outcomes. Methods A qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured interviews conducted at 6-months post-baseline was conducted. A directed content analysis was undertaken. Participants We interviewed 27 adults (52% male, 48% female, mean age 76 years) from the OWG (n = 13) and WR group (n = 14). Results We identified two themes including: “Holding Me Accountable to Walk More Frequently”, and “We Walked Farther, With More Ease and Confidence, and We Felt Better”. Participants in both groups described how the OWG and WR programs provided some degree of structure and accountability to others that increased their motivation to walk outdoors. Participants described how the OWG led to improved walking capacity (e.g., increased walking distance) and confidence. Interacting with people during OWG sessions led to a sense of enjoyment, and well-being. Conclusions Community programs that incorporate structure, accountability, and opportunities for social interaction, can help improve motivation to increase outdoor walking activity and a sense of belonging for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. Park-based OWG programs appear to convey additional important benefits related to improved physical function and well-being. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03292510 Date of registration: September 25, 2017.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05611-zOlder adultsOutdoor walkingPhysical activityRandomized controlled trialTask-oriented trainingParks |
| spellingShingle | Kristina M. Kokorelias Jacquie Ripat Ruth Barclay C. Allyson Jones Nancy E. Mayo Theresa Grant Stephanie Scodras Kyla Alsbury-Nealy Charlotte Ryder-Burbidge Nancy M. Salbach A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial BMC Geriatrics Older adults Outdoor walking Physical activity Randomized controlled trial Task-oriented training Parks |
| title | A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | park based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors a qualitative process evaluation of the getting older adults outdoors go out randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Older adults Outdoor walking Physical activity Randomized controlled trial Task-oriented training Parks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05611-z |
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