Development, implementation and evaluation of two tailored based physical activity intervention for the over-fifties.

Lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for diseases like CVD,
Diabetes II, and cancer. Although regular physical activity has been
demonstrated to be critical for the promotion of health and physical
functioning as people age, persons over 50 years of age represent the most
sedentary segment of the adult population. Studies have shown that only 10 to
30% of the older adults do comply with the national physical activity
guideline. Moreover, 50% of the older adults who are not physically active have
no intention of starting to exercise regularly in order to increase their
activity. Currently, in the Netherlands 32% of all residents are over fifty
years of age. Stimulating physical activity for this large group is therefore
of major relevance and will be the focus of this study.

To develop, implement and evaluate two physical activity tailored intervention
programs among the over-fifties.
subgoal: To perform a process evaluation to assess the feasibility of these
programs
subgoal 2: To perform an efefct evaluation to assess the (cost-) effectiveness
of these programs

In this study two tailored physical activity intervention will be developed
that will provide tailored information on three times.
Tailoring 1:
Based on the personal data gathered at baseline from the individuals, the first
tailoring letter will be received within two weeks after the questionnaire is
returned. In this first letter most information will be given on raising
awareness of subjects' own physical activity, on determinants of initiating
physical activity and on becoming aware of possibilities to be more physically
active. Subjects who already meet the norm for physical activity get
information in which their current behaviour is acknowledged as being healthy
and information on how to best maintain their current behaviour.
Tailoring 2: Based on the personal data gathered at baseline from the
individuals, the second tailoring letter will be received around 4 weeks after
the questionnaire was returned. In this letter most information will be on the
determinants of maintaining physical active, on tips how to stay motivated and
on tips how to integrate physical activity in daily life.
Tailoring 3: three months after the first questionnaire, subjects will receive
an additional questionnaire to fill in and return. In the third letter it
becomes possible to give tailored information on changes that subjects made
between the first and second questionnaire. This would mean that improvement
could be rewarded and further encouraged, that possible relapse could be
addressed appropriately with additional suggestions to again increase the
amount of physical activity. This letter will be received around 4 months after
the baseline questionnaire.

Study 1:
- November 2006: Pre-test
- Novmber: Tailoring 1
- December: Tailoring 2
- January: Post-test 1
- January : Tailoring 3
- February: Post-test 2

Study 2:
- March 2007: Pre-test
- Half March: Tailoring 1
- April: Tailoring 2
- June: Post-test 1
- July: Tailoring 3
- September: Post-test 2
- March 2008: Post-test 3

In study 1 two conditions will be included:
Intervention group 1:
subjects in this condition will receive tailored advice three times on their
psychosocial determinants of physical activity. The intervention will tailor on
three levels: awareness of physical activity, behavioural change, and
maintenance of behavioural change.
Intervention group 2:
Subjects in this condition will in addition on the tailored advice on their
psychosocial determinants on physical activity also receive personalized
information on their environmental determinants and local initiatives and
activities.

In study 2 three conditions will be included:
Intervention group 1:
subjects in this condition will receive tailored advice three times on their
psychosocial determinants of physical activity. The intervention will tailor on
three levels: awareness of physical activity, behavioural change, and
maintenance of behavioural change.
Intervention group 2:
Subjects in this condition will in addition on the tailored advice on their
psychosocial determinants on physical activity also receive personalized
information on their environmental determinants and local initiatives and
activities.
Control group:
Subjects in this condition will receive no information

Participants are eligible if motivated to quit within the next year. In order
to prevent attrition participants will all receive a reward when having
completed all questionnaires. The load of filling in all the questionnaires
will maximally be 120 minutes in total. Respondents will be explained (verbal
and by writing);
a. that they will participate in a study that is aimed at stimulating physical
activity behaviour
b. about the number of post-tests
c. that they can terminate participation at any time without stating one*s
reasons for doing so;
d. that responses will be treated with the greatest care and remain
confidential and can only be accessible by the researchers of this project.
Names will be kept in a separate file; the data set will be coded and does not
contain names;

Participation in the study will not bring any burden or risks.