This study aims to explore the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a mobile phone-based intervention among elderly individuals with chronic diseases.
Promoting physical activity among elderly individuals is an increasingly critical public health priority. Regular exercise is essential for maintaining mobility, enhancing mental well-being, and reducing the risk of exacerbating chronic conditions. However, many elderly individuals encounter significant barriers, including physical limitations, lack of motivation, and restricted access to safe environments. This mobile phone-based intervention seeks to address these challenges by offering accessible support through age-appropriate exercise routines, motivational prompts, and educational content delivered directly to participants' mobile devices. The intervention's primary objective is to reduce sedentary behavior, increase physical activity levels, and ultimately enhance the overall health and well-being of elderly individuals with chronic diseases.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
200
Participants receive three months of personalized support via WeChat, including tailored exercise recommendations, motivational messages, and educational content.
Participants receive a self-help booklet to promote physical activity among the elderly. The booklet will include guidelines for safe and effective exercises, tips for staying motivated, and information on the health benefits of regular physical activity.
Beijing Normal University
Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
Time spent in sedentary behavior
The time spent sedentary behavior (min/week) in the last 7 days
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Acceptability of the Mobile Phone-Based Intervention
Acceptability will be assessed using a series of 4 items from previous studies on mobile physical activity interventions. Participants will rate each statement on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The statements will cover aspects such as ease of use, personal relevance, clarity of information, and overall satisfaction with the intervention.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Perceived Usefulness of the Mobile Phone-Based Intervention
Perceived usefulness will be assessed using 5 items from previous studies on online physical activity interventions. Participants will rate each question on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all useful) to 5 (very useful). The questions will explore how useful participants found the intervention in helping them to (1) increase confidence in engaging in regular physical activity, (2) overcome barriers to physical activity, (3) increase support for participating in physical activity, (4) plan for physical activity, and (5) stay motivated to engage in physical activity.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Time spent in zero-time exercise
The time spent physical activity while seated and standing (min/week) in the last 7 days
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Exercise self-efficacy
This outcome measure evaluates participants' confidence in their ability to engage in regular physical activity (self-efficacy). Participants will rate their confidence on a single-item scale ranging from 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.
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Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Anxiety and depression
Anxiety and depression levels will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), a validated tool comprising two items for anxiety and two items for depression. The PHQ-4 score ranges from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety and depression symptoms.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Perceived subjective happiness
This outcome measure assesses participants' subjective happiness using a Self-Reported Happiness scale. Participants will rate their happiness on a single-item scale ranging from 1 (not at all happy) to 5 (extremely happy), with higher scores indicating greater perceived happiness.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Perceived life satisfaction
This outcome measure assesses participants' subjective life satisfaction using a self-reported life satisfaction scale. Participants will rate their life satisfaction on a single-item scale ranging from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived life satisfaction.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up