An Internet-Based Physical Activity Intervention to Improve Quality of Life of Inactive Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
BACKGROUND
Increasing physical activity is a viable strategy for improving both the health and quality of life of older adults.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess if an Internet-based intervention aimed to increase physical activity was effective in improving quality of life of inactive older adults. In addition, we analyzed the effect of the intervention on quality of life among those participants who successfully reached their individually targeted increase in daily physical activity as indicated by the intervention program, as well as the dose-response effect of increasing physical activity on quality of life.


METHODS
The intervention was tested in a randomized controlled trial and was comprised of an Internet program-DirectLife (Philips)-aimed at increasing physical activity using monitoring and feedback by accelerometry and feedback by digital coaching (n=119). The control group received no intervention (n=116). Participants were inactive 60-70-year-olds and were recruited from the general population. Quality of life and physical activity were measured at baseline and after 3 months using the Research ANd Development 36-item health survey (RAND-36) and wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer, respectively.


RESULTS
After 3 months, a significant improvement in quality of life was seen in the intervention group compared to the control group for RAND-36 subscales on emotional and mental health (2.52 vs -0.72, respectively; P=.03) and health change (8.99 vs 2.03, respectively; P=.01). A total of 50 of the 119 participants (42.0%) in the intervention group successfully reached their physical activity target and showed a significant improvement in quality of life compared to the control group for subscales on emotional and mental health (4.31 vs -0.72, respectively; P=.009) and health change (11.06 vs 2.03, respectively; P=.004). The dose-response analysis showed that there was a significant association between increase in minutes spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and increase in quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that an Internet-based physical activity program was effective in improving quality of life in 60-70-year-olds after 3 months, particularly in participants that reached their individually targeted increase in daily physical activity.


BACKGROUND
Nederlands Trial Register: NTR 3045; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=3045 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6fobg2sjJ).
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden, Netherlands.
Karen
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7216-3162
K
Broekhuizen
Jelle
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9950-3083
J
de Gelder
Carolien A
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4999-841X
CA
Wijsman
Liselotte W
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6438-5857
LW
Wijsman
Rudi G J
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0672-8372
RG
Westendorp
Evert
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9227-8234
E
Verhagen
Pieternella E
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2875-4723
PE
Slagboom
Anton J
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9314-123X
AJ
de Craen
Willem
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7136-6382
W
van Mechelen
Diana
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8526-7748
D
van Heemst
Frans
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7243-0179
F
van der Ouderaa
Simon P
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3106-3568
SP
Mooijaart
D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
Internet; physical activity; quality of life