title: Web-site-based tailored advice to promote strength and balance training: an experimental evaluation.
abstract: This study evaluated a Web site providing tailored advice to encourage older people to undertake strength and balance training (SBT). Adults age 60-88 (N = 302) were randomized to read either generic advice or advice tailored to their self-perceived balance problems and activity preferences. Between-groups differences in attitudes toward SBT after reading the advice did not quite reach significance (p = .059), but the tailored group reported higher ratings than the generic group that the advice was personally relevant (p = .017) and that the activities would be good for them (p = .047). Within-groups differences in the tailored group showed that completing an action plan increased confidence in undertaking SBT (p = .006). These findings were supported by a meta-analysis that pooled the effect sizes with those of a previous study. Thus, a tailored Web site might be a cost-effective way of encouraging some older people to undertake SBT.
authors.affiliation: Inst. of Health Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Nyman
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yardley
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires