title: 'On Your Feet to Earn Your Seat', a habit-based intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many older adults are both highly sedentary (that is, spend considerable amounts of time sitting) and physically inactive (that is, do little physical activity). This protocol describes an exploratory trial of a theory-based behaviour change intervention in the form of a booklet outlining simple activities ('tips') designed both to reduce sedentary behaviour and to increase physical activity in older adults. The intervention is based on the 'habit formation' model, which proposes that consistent repetition leads to behaviour becoming automatic, sustaining activity gains over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention is being developed iteratively, in line with Medical Research Council complex intervention guidelines. Selection of activity tips was informed by semi-structured interviews and focus groups with older adults, and input from a multidisciplinary expert panel. An ongoing preliminary field test of acceptability among 25 older adults will inform further refinement. An exploratory randomized controlled trial will be conducted within a primary care setting, comparing the tips booklet with a control fact sheet. Retired, inactive and sedentary adults (n = 120) aged 60 to 74 years, with no physical impairments precluding light physical activity, will be recruited from general practices in north London, UK. The primary outcomes are recruitment and attrition rates. Secondary outcomes are changes in behaviour, habit, health and wellbeing over 12 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data will be used to inform study procedures for a future, larger-scale definitive randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN47901994.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. b.gardner@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Ingela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thuné-Boyle
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliffe
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jefferis
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome