title: Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Web-Based Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Meaningful Social Connections Compared with Usual Care Control in People of Retirement Age Recruited from Workplaces.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifestyle interventions delivered during the retirement transition might promote healthier ageing. We report a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a web-based platform (Living, Eating, Activity and Planning through retirement; LEAP) promoting healthy eating (based on a Mediterranean diet (MD)), physical activity (PA) and meaningful social roles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single blinded, two-arm RCT with individual allocation. Seventy-five adult regular internet users living in Northeast England, within two years of retirement, were recruited via employers and randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive LEAP or a 'usual care' control. Intervention arm participants were provided with a pedometer to encourage self-monitoring of PA goals. Feasibility of the trial design and procedures was established by estimating recruitment and retention rates, and of LEAP from usage data. At baseline and 8-week follow-up, adherence to a MD derived from three 24-hour dietary recalls and seven-day PA by accelerometry were assessed. Healthy ageing outcomes (including measures of physiological function, physical capability, cognition, psychological and social wellbeing) were assessed and acceptability established by compliance with measurement protocols and completion rates. Thematically analysed, semi-structured, qualitative interviews assessed acceptability of the intervention, trial design, procedures and outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy participants completed the trial; 48 (96%) participants in the intervention and 22 (88%) in the control arm. Participants had considerable scope for improvement in diet as assessed by MD score. LEAP was visited a median of 11 times (range 1-80) for a mean total time of 2.5 hours (range 5.5 min- 8.3 hours). 'Moving more', 'eating well' and 'being social' were the most visited modules. At interview, participants reported that diet and PA modules were important and acceptable within the context of healthy ageing. Participants found both trial procedures and outcome assessments acceptable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trial procedures and the LEAP intervention proved feasible and acceptable. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of LEAP to promote healthy lifestyles warrant evaluation in a definitive RCT.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02136381.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heaven
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: People Services, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Redcar, United Kingdom.|Centre for Public Policy and Health, School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Durham University Queen's Campus, Stockton on Tees, United Kingdom.|Health and Social Care Institute, School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, United Kingdom.|Fuse, UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Centre for Oral Health Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Moynihan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas HSC, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rochester
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Fuse, UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Falko F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Sniehotta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.|Centre for Ageing & Vitality (CAV), Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mathers
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012179:Retirement; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012919:Social Behavior