Examination of physical activity for health promotion, and attitudes towards aging, among adults - cross-cultural comparisons; healthcare provider recommendations; toolkit evaluation.

Abstract

Despite the well-known health benefits of physical activity, the majority of adults do not obtain the recommended daily amount. Three studies, using three different research designs, were conducted to examine physical activity, for health promotion and disease prevention, among relatively healthy adults. The Cross-cultural Intergenerational Comparisons of Attitudes towards Aging and Physical Activity study, a cross-sectional survey, examined 475 participants belonging to one of three groups (Indians in India, Indians in the United States, and Americans in the United States) on physical activity level, barriers to physical activity participation, and attitudes towards personal aging. Differences were observed among the groups on self-rated general health, occurrence of preventive examinations, and barriers to physical activity. Physical activity level was positively correlated with optimistic attitudes towards personal aging. The Healthcare Provider Physical Activity Prescription Intervention, a randomized comparison trial, examined the impact, at one month and three months, of written prescriptions of physical activity, with or without additional resources, made by healthcare providers (physicians and diabetes counselors) to patients on preventive care office visits. Self-reported physical activity increased (p=0.04) in the overall sample of 24 patients who completed questionnaires at baseline as well as three months, as well as in the intervention group receiving a physical activity toolkit in addition to the written prescription (p=0.01). The Adoption and Utilization of the “First Step to Active Health” Toolkit in a Healthy Adult Population study, an observational project, examined the adoption and utilization of a physical activity toolkit, comprising a resistance band and instructional materials on its use, in a healthy adult population already enrolled in a 12-week walking program. Physical activity level dropped (p=0.003) from baseline to follow-up, at six to eight weeks, in the nineteen participants who completed the study. The toolkit was well-received by the participants, with most of them finding it useful and versatile. These studies highlight the imperative to address environmental barriers to physical activity, particularly in India, and bolster the social environment, supporting the provision of physical activity recommendations, as well as additional resources, to encourage participation in physical activity