title: Development of a training programme for home health care workers to promote preventive activities focused on a healthy lifestyle: an intervention mapping approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifestyle is an important aspect in maintaining good health in older adults, and home health care (HHC) workers can play an important role in promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, there is limited evidence in the literature regarding how to develop an effective training programme to improve the physical activity level and fruit and vegetable consumption of older adults within a HHC setting. The aim of this paper is to describe how Intervention Mapping (IM) was used to develop a training programme to promote preventive activities of HHC workers relating to the physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake of older adults living at home.
  
  
  METHODS
  IM, a systematic theory and evidence-based approach was used to develop, implement and evaluate the training programme. This entailed a literature search, a survey, semi-structured interviews and consultation with HHC workers and various field experts, and a pilot training session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The determinants associated with the provision of preventive activities were identified, and an overview was created of those objectives, matching methods and practical applications that could influence these determinants. The performance objectives for the HHC workers were early detection and monitoring, promoting a healthy lifestyle, informing colleagues, continuing allocated preventive activities and referring to other experts and facilities. Findings were translated into a comprehensive training programme for HHC workers focused on motivating older adults to adopt and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IM was a useful tool in the development of a theory-based training programme to promote preventive activities by HHC workers relating to fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity of older adults.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community & Occupational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.e.walters@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Maaike E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS, Groningen, The Netherlands. arie.dijkstra@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.affiliation: Division of Community & Occupational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.f.de.winter@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Andrea F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: de Winter
authors.affiliation: Division of Community & Occupational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands. s.a.reijneveld@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Sijmen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Reijneveld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D018576:Home Health Aides / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D009042:Motivation; D016730:Program Development; D036301:Qualitative Research; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables