title: Are the attitudes of exercise instructors who work with older adults influenced by training and personal characteristics?
abstract: Little is known about the relationship between attitudes and characteristics of instructors and uptake and adherence of older people to exercise classes. This article explores these issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors surveyed 731 UK exercise instructors with specialist older adult exercise qualifications. A questionnaire investigated instructors' characteristics and attitudes toward older adults' participation in exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For mostly seated classes, EXTEND qualification (B = 0.36, p = .005) had a positive effect on instructors' attitudes. Later Life Training qualification (B = -2.80, p = .003), clinical background (B = -3.99, p = .005), and delivering classes in National Health Services (B = -3.12, p < .001), leisure centers (B = -2.75, p = .002), or nursing homes (B = -2.29, p = .005) had a negative effect on attitudes. For mostly standing classes, experience (B = 0.20, p = .003) and delivering in leisure centers (B = 0.46, p = .032) had a positive and clinical background (B = -1.78, p = .018) had a negative effect on instructors' attitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most instructors have positive attitudes, but training and work context can influence attitudes toward older people's participation in exercise classes both positively and negatively.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: Dawn A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Skelton
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom