To test the impact of a scalable 6-month online physical activity behaviour change Active Women over 50 program on physical activity participation among women aged 50+ years compared with a waitlist control. Secondary objectives include investigating factors affecting program uptake and maintenance, and evaluating the cost-effectiveness, implementation potential and determinants to guide scale-up.
The Active Women over 50 effectiveness-implementation trial (ACTRN12624000026527) is funded by the Australian Medical Research Future Fund. One thousand community-dwelling women will be recruited across NSW Australia, with half living in rural/regional areas. Women are eligible if they are aged 50+ years, not meeting the WHO physical activity guidelines and want support to be more active. Recruitment is via advertisements in community newsletters, websites, mainstream/social media, and through community organisations and health promotion services targeting women such as BreastScreen NSW. Participants are randomised to receive the intervention immediately or after 6 months (waitlist control). The intervention includes access to 2 sessions of telephone health coaching with a physiotherapist; behaviour change email/SMS messages sent according to the participant’s preferred frequency; resources via a program-specific website; and a private Facebook group. The control group will receive the intervention after completing follow-up measures.
Primary outcome is device-measured daily steps. Other outcomes include device-measured and self-reported physical activity, falls, physical function, quality of life, sleep, physical activity action and coping planning at baseline and 6 months post-randomisation. Cost-effectiveness, process and implementation outcomes will also be assessed. Pre-defined subgroup analyses will be conducted by geographical setting (urban, rural/regional), age, number of medical conditions and baseline fall history.
Recruitment commenced March 2024. So far there have been 584 expressions of interest recruited mostly via email, word of mouth, newspaper or radio. Of those who have been screened 84% are eligible and of those randomised, 62% live in urban settings and 38% live in rural/regional settings.
The Active Women over 50 program has the potential to provide a scalable solution for increasing the autonomy of women aged 50+ to manage their health and wellbeing by being more physically active, and ultimately leading to a decrease in their healthcare service use.
The remotely-delivered Active Women over 50 program could provide a scalable solution for the burden physical inactivity places on individuals and health systems. If proven effective, the Active Women over 50 program could be implemented at a population level including women who are isolated or living in diverse socio-geographic settings to promote physical activity, healthy aging, and independence.
physical activity
implementation
