1
|
Jansson AK, Duncan MJ, Bauman A, Smith JJ, Lubans DR, Attia J, Plotnikoff RC. A Mobile Health Resistance Training Intervention Using Outdoor Gym Equipment: Process Evaluation of the Ecofit Effectiveness Randomized Controlled Trial. J Phys Act Health 2024; 21:405-412. [PMID: 38335945 DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few mobile health resistance-based physical activity interventions have targeted community-dwelling adults. "Ecofit" is a multicomponent intervention that promotes resistance and aerobic activities using smartphone technology, outdoor gyms, and social support. This study evaluated process evaluation outcomes of the ecofit randomized controlled trial: (1) the acceptability and usability of the ecofit smartphone app and app user workouts; (2) perceptions of factors influencing outdoor gym use; and (3) the fidelity, reach, recruitment, and dose received of the ecofit program. METHODS Process data were collected through program evaluation surveys at 3 months, and app usage data were collected via the intervention platform for up to 3 months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS The survey was completed by 57% (n = 69) of eligible participants. The majority (93%) believed the app provided them with sufficient information to perform muscle-strengthening activities. Approximately half (51%) agreed that the goal-setting function encouraged them to complete their workouts, and 42% agreed that the self-assessment helped them monitor progress. "Proximity" to outdoor gyms emerged as the most important factor for choosing locations to workout (mean = 5.5, SD = 1.1). Participants logged a median of 5.5 (interquartile range = 19) workouts and 1 (interquartile range = 1) upper- and lower-body muscular fitness self-assessment. CONCLUSIONS The ecofit app provided participants with sufficient skills to perform unsupervised resistance training exercises using mobile health. Only half of the participants regarded self-assessments and goal setting as useful, suggesting a need for modifications to how these are implemented. Mobile health remains a promising delivery platform to promote unsupervised resistance training, although more research is needed to improve uptake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Jansson
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Mitch J Duncan
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Adrian Bauman
- School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Jordan J Smith
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - David R Lubans
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - John Attia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Ronald C Plotnikoff
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Marcos-Pardo PJ, Espeso-García A, Vaquero-Cristóbal R, Abelleira-Lamela T, González-Gálvez N. The Effect of Resistance Training with Outdoor Fitness Equipment on the Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Physical Health of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:726. [PMID: 38610148 PMCID: PMC11011249 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the effect of outdoor-fitness-equipment-based resistance training on the health parameters of middle-aged and older adults, as well as analyzing the effect of age on the results found. A total of 149 volunteers were randomly assigned to the training (TG) and control (CG) groups. The TG performed two weekly sessions of resistance training for 8 weeks using outdoor fitness equipment, while the CG continued with their regular daily activities. Body composition was measured using DXA, and the maximal isometric voluntary contraction in knee extension, elbow flexion, and hand grip were assessed, along with the 4 m walk test, the Timed Up and Go Test, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire. The TG showed a significant increase in the lean mass index (p = 0.002) and maximal isometric voluntary contraction in both legs (p < 0.001) and arms (p < 0.001), as well as in physical functioning (p < 0.001) and the role physical dimension (p = 0.006) of the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire, compared to the CG, which showed a decrease in all these variables. In addition, the TG showed a greater decrease in fat mass (p < 0.001), fat mass index (p = 0.003), and the Timed Up and Go Test (p < 0.001) than the CG. Age conditioned the evolution of most of the variables analyzed (p < 0.05). In conclusion, resistance training with outdoor fitness equipment may be useful for improving the health of middle-aged and older adults, although age is a factor that could influence the adaptations found.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo J. Marcos-Pardo
- Centro de Investigación para el Bienestar y la Inclusión Social (CIBIS Research Center), SPORT Research Group (CTS-1024), Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain;
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Alejandro Espeso-García
- Injury Prevention in Sport Research Group (PRELEDE), Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
| | - Tomás Abelleira-Lamela
- Injury Prevention in Sport Research Group (PRELEDE), Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Noelia González-Gálvez
- Active Aging, Exercise and Health/HEALTHY-AGE Network, Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Research Group on Health, Physical Activity, Fitness and Motor Behaviour (GISAFFCOM), Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Geana MV, Liu P, Pei J, Anderson S, Ramaswamy M. "A Friendly Conversation." Developing an eHealth Intervention to Increase COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Literacy Among Women with Criminal and Legal System Involvement. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 29:131-142. [PMID: 38111197 PMCID: PMC10842808 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2293094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Many women leaving jails are ill-prepared to follow recommended COVID-19 mitigation practices, including testing and vaccination. Low COVID-19-related health literacy, exposure to disinformation, and mistrust in authorities put women at increased risk. Research on this population has shown significant use of mobile devices for communication and web access and public Wi-fi for the internet. Using inductive (formative empirical research with the community) and deductive (theory-based) practices, we designed, developed, and pilot-tested a multimedia, culturally tailored web-based electronic health (eHealth) application to increase COVID-19-specific health literacy and promote testing and vaccination among women with criminal and legal system involvement (CLSI). The intervention included a serialized animated multimedia component and a telenovela-style series, complementing each other and addressing knowledge needs identified in the formative research phase of the project. The eHealth intervention was pilot-tested with 13 CLSI women by using online activity logs and semi-structured telephone interviews. Findings confirmed that eHealth interventions employing multimodal information delivery had increased chances of engaging audiences, especially when developed with input from the target population and are culturally tailored. In addition, using a web-based delivery optimized for mobile made the intervention accessible on various devices and decreased the risk of technical problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mugur V. Geana
- Center for Excellence in Health Communication to Underserved Populations, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Pan Liu
- Department of Media, Design, and Communication, Marian University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Jun Pei
- Center for Excellence in Health Communication to Underserved Populations, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Sherri Anderson
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Megha Ramaswamy
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| |
Collapse
|