title: Health promotion in older Chinese: a 12-month cluster randomized controlled trial of pedometry and "peer support".
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aging, in conjunction with decreasing physical activity, is associated with a range of health problems. Simple, low-maintenance, population-based means of promoting activity to counteract the age-associated decline are required. We therefore assessed the effect of pedometry and buddy support to increase physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a clustered randomized trial (HKCTR-346) of 24 community centers involving 399 older Chinese participants (≥ 60 yr). Centers were randomly allocated to 1) pedometry and buddy, 2) pedometry and no buddy, 3) no pedometry and buddy, and 4) no pedometry and no buddy with a 2 × 2 factorial design. The trial simultaneously tested the individual and combined effects of the interventions. The intervention groups also received monthly organized group activities to provide encouragement and support. Outcome measures were assessed at 6 and 12 months, including physical fitness and activity and cardiovascular disease risk factors (anthropometry and blood pressure).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 24 centers, 356 volunteers (89.2%) completed the study. Those receiving the interventions had higher mean physical activity levels at 12 months of 1820 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1360-2290) and 1260 (95% CI = 780-1740) MET·min·wk(-1), respectively relative to the decrease in the control groups. The buddy peer support intervention significantly improved mean aerobic fitness (12% [95% CI = 4%-21%]) and reduced both body fat (-0.6% [95% CI = -1.1% to 0.0%]) and time to complete the 2.5-m get-up-and-go test (-0.27 [95% CI = -0.53 to -0.01] s). No other improvements in the cardiovascular disease risk factors were observed. The combination of motivational tools was no better than the individual interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both motivational interventions increased physical activity levels, and the buddy style improved fitness. These tools could be useful adjuncts in the prevention of obesity and age-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. gneilthomas@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: G Neil
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Boliang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Bernard M Y
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McGhee
authors.forename: Kee-Lee
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Deeks
authors.forename: Tai Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010379:Peer Group; D012944:Social Support