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Do Pedometers Increase Physical Activity in Sedentary Older Women? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Author(s) -
McMurdo Marion E. T.,
Sugden Jacqui,
Argo Ishbel,
Boyle Paul,
Johnston Derek W.,
Sniehotta Falko F.,
Donnan Peter T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03127.x
Subject(s) - pedometer , medicine , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , psychological intervention , quality of life (healthcare) , physical activity , surgery , nursing , psychiatry
OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of a behavior change intervention (BCI) with or without a pedometer in increasing physical activity in sedentary older women. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care, City of Dundee, Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred four sedentary women aged 70 and older. INTERVENTIONS: Six months of BCI, BCI plus pedometer (pedometer plus), or usual care. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome: change in daily activity counts measured by accelerometry. Secondary outcomes: Short Physical Performance Battery, health‐related quality of life, depression and anxiety, falls, and National Health Service resource use. RESULTS: One hundred seventy‐nine of 204 (88%) women completed the 6‐month trial. Withdrawals were highest from the BCI group (15/68) followed by the pedometer plus group (8/68) and then the control group (2/64). After adjustment for baseline differences, accelerometry counts increased significantly more in the BCI group at 3 months than in the control group ( P =.002) and the pedometer plus group ( P =.04). By 6 months, accelerometry counts in both intervention groups had fallen to levels that were no longer statistically significantly different from baseline. There were no significant changes in the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: The BCI was effective in objectively increasing physical activity in sedentary older women. Provision of a pedometer yielded no additional benefit in physical activity, but may have motivated participants to remain in the trial. Trial registration: ISRCTN26786857