title: An individualized exercise programme with and without behavioural change enhancement strategies for managing fatigue among frail older people: a quasi-experimental pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of an individualized exercise programme with and without behavioural change enhancement strategies for frail older people with fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three-arm, single-blinded, quasi-experimental pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community health centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 79 frail older people with fatigue, mean age 79.32 years (±7.72).
  
  
  METHODS
  The combined group received a 16-week combined intervention consisting of exercise training and a behavioural change enhancement programme. The exercise group received exercise training and health talks, whereas the control group received only health talks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feasibility was assessed through the participants' recruitment, retention, attendance and adherence, feedback, and reports of adverse events. The preliminary effects were assessed by the participants' level of fatigue, physical endurance, self-efficacy, and self-perceived compliance with exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feasibility was achievable with high recruitment (87.2%) and low overall attrition (7.1%) rates. A similar reduction in fatigue was identified in all groups, but a trend of greater improvement in physical endurance was observed in the combined group than in the other two groups. The combined group also had a significantly better attendance rate [F(2,76) = 5.64, p < 0.01)] and higher self-perceived exercise compliance than the exercise group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined intervention has the potential to enhance the participants' adherence to exercise regimens by improving their attendance in training sessions and their self-perceived exercise compliance. They are important to maintaining an appropriate level of engagement in daily exercises, especially at the beginning stages of behavioural change, when the participants are establishing the habit of exercising daily.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Gerontological Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Justina Y-W
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Gerontological Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Claudia Ky
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Parco M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Gerontological Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Enid
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Gerontological Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Mimi My
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005221:Fatigue / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: Fatigue; behavioural enhancement; exercise; frailty