title: The AgeWell study of behavior change to promote health and wellbeing in later life: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifestyle factors playing a role in the development of late-life disability may be modifiable. There is a need for robust evidence about the potential for prevention of disability through behavior change interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This feasibility study involves the development, implementation and initial testing of a behavior change intervention in a naturalistic setting. A small-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) will investigate the implementation of a goal-setting intervention aimed at promoting behavior change in the domains of physical and cognitive activity in the context of a community resource center for over-50s. Healthy older participants attending the center (n = 75) will be randomized to one of three conditions: control (an interview involving a general discussion about the center); goal-setting (an interview involving identification of up to five personal goals in the domains of physical activity, cognitive activity, diet and health, and social engagement); or goal-setting with mentoring (the goal-setting interview followed by bi-monthly telephone mentoring). All participants will be reassessed after 12 months. Primary outcomes are levels of physical and cognitive activity. Secondary outcomes address psychosocial (self-efficacy, mood, quality of life), cognitive (memory and executive function), and physical fitness (functional and metabolic) domains. Cost-effectiveness will also be examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will provide information about the feasibility of a community-based lifestyle intervention model for over-50s and of the implementation of a goal-setting intervention for behavior change, together with initial evidence about the short-term effects of goal-setting on behavior.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN30080637 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).
authors: School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2AS, UK. l.clare@bangor.ac.uk
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Clare
authors: John V
authors: JV
authors: Hindle
authors: Ian R
authors: IR
authors: Jones
authors: Jeanette M
authors: JM
authors: Thom
authors: Sharon M
authors: SM
authors: Nelis
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Hounsome
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Whitaker
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D056344:Executive Function; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006040:Goals; D015438:Health Behavior; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008568:Memory; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors; D014852:Wales