title: The effect of a designed health education intervention on physical activity knowledge and participation of adults with intellectual disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess novel methods of health education and promotion to increase physical activity among adults with intellectual disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre-post delayed treatment design was employed to assess the effect of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was administered at two agencies that serve adults with intellectual disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two adults ranging in age from 19 to 62 with mild to moderate intellectual disability participated in the study. Participants were equally divided by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  An eight-session intervention employed a combination of video instruction, pictorial memory tools, and interactive class activities as educational methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity knowledge was evaluated using Illingworth, Moore, and McGillivray's Nutrition Activity Knowledge Scale (NAKS) and the Physical Activity Recommendations Assessment (PARA). Average daily minutes of physical activity were measured using dual-axis accelerometers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired and independent samples t-tests were used to assess the knowledge scales. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to assess physical activity participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, there were mean improvements in scores for both the NAKS (p < .05) and the PARA (p < .001) following the intervention. Physical activity also improved, but not significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The education and training methods used in this curriculum are promising for future health education programs in this population. Additional interventions may be necessary to improve physical activity participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA. weavera@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bodde
authors.forename: Dong-Chul
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Georgia C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Puymbroeck
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lohrmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult