title: Short and long-term adherence to swimming and walking programs in older women--the Sedentary Women Exercise Adherence Trial (SWEAT 2).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine in previously sedentary older women the effects of exercise mode and a behavioural intervention on short and long-term retention and adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy, sedentary women aged 50-70 years (N=116) were randomly assigned to a supervised 6-month swimming or walking program 3 sessions a week. They were further randomised to usual care or a behavioural intervention. The same program was further continued unsupervised for 6 months. We assessed retention, adherence, stage of exercise behaviour and changes in fitness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred women (86%) completed 6 months and 86 (74%) continued for 12 months. Retention rates were similar for both exercise modes at 6 and 12 months. Adherence to swimming or walking was similar after 6 months (76.3 (95% CI: 69.5, 83.1)% vs. 74.3 (67.7, 80.9)%) and 12 months (65.8 (57.9, 73.8)% vs. 62.2 (54.6, 70.0)%). The behavioural intervention did not enhance retention or adherence. Fitness improved for both exercise modes after 6 months and was maintained at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Either swimming or walking programs initiated with careful supervision over 6 months resulted in similar high retention and adherence rates by highly motivated older women over 12 months. Behavioural intervention in this setting did not improve these rates further.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Australia. kaycox@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Kay L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Beilin
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Derbyshire
authors.forename: J Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Blanksby
authors.forename: Ian B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Puddey
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*