title: Acceptability of a theory-based sedentary behaviour reduction intervention for older adults ('On Your Feet to Earn Your Seat').
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adults aged 60 years and over spend most time sedentary and are the least physically active of all age groups. This early-phase study explored acceptability of a theory-based intervention to reduce sitting time and increase activity in older adults, as part of the intervention development process.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-week uncontrolled trial was run among two independent samples of UK adults aged 60-75 years. Sample 1, recruited from sheltered housing on the assumption that they were sedentary and insufficiently active, participated between December 2013 and March 2014. Sample 2, recruited through community and faith centres and a newsletter, on the basis of self-reported inactivity (<150 weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity) and sedentary behaviour (≥ 6 h mean daily sitting), participated between March and August 2014. Participants received a booklet offering 16 tips for displacing sitting with light-intensity activity and forming activity habits, and self-monitoring 'tick-sheets'. At baseline, 4-week, and 8-week follow-ups, quantitative measures were taken of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and habit. At 8 weeks, tick-sheets were collected and a semi-structured interview conducted. Acceptability was assessed for each sample separately, through attrition and adherence to tips, ANOVAs for behaviour and habit changes, and, for both samples combined, thematic analysis of interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Sample 1, 12 of 16 intervention recipients completed the study (25% attrition), mean adherence was 40% (per-tip range: 15-61%), and there were no clear patterns of changes in sedentary or physical activity behaviour or habit. In Sample 2, 23 of 27 intervention recipients completed (15% attrition), and mean adherence was 58% (per-tip range: 39-82%). Sample 2 decreased mean sitting time and sitting habit, and increased walking, moderate activity, and activity habit. Qualitative data indicated that both samples viewed the intervention positively, found the tips easy to follow, and reported health and wellbeing gains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low attrition, moderate adherence, and favourability in both samples, and positive changes in Sample 2, indicate the intervention was acceptable. Higher attrition, lower adherence, and no apparent behavioural impact among Sample 1 could perhaps be attributable to seasonal influences. The intervention has been refined to address emergent acceptability problems. An exploratory controlled trial is underway.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK. raluca.matei@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matei
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK. i.thune-boyle@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ingela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thuné-Boyle
authors.affiliation: Population Health Domain Physical Activity Research Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. m.hamer@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health, University College London, London, UK. s.iliffe@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliffe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. k.r.fox@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Population Health Domain Physical Activity Research Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. b.jefferis@ucl.ac.uk.|Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health, University College London, London, UK. b.jefferis@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jefferis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 9th Floor, Capital House, 42 Weston Street, London, SE1 3QD, UK. benjamin.gardner@kcl.ac.uk.|UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK. benjamin.gardner@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D006113:United Kingdom; D016138:Walking