Joke Opdenacker

Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention and a structured exercise intervention in older adults

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a lifestyle intervention and a structured exercise intervention on physical activity in older adults. METHOD Participants were randomly assigned to a lifestyle intervention (n=60), including an individualized home-based program supported by phone calls, or to a structured intervention (n=60) consisting of three weekly supervised sessions. Results were compared with a control group (n=66). Physical activity was measured with self-report questionnaires, pedometers, and accelerometers before the start (pretest), at the end (11 months, posttest), and after 23 months (follow-up). The study took place in Belgium from March 2004 until April 2006. RESULTS At posttest, both intervention groups had significantly increased their total physical activity compared with the control group. At follow-up, the lifestyle group showed significantly larger increases in active transportation and total steps than the control and structured group respectively. There were no longer significant differences between the structured intervention and the control group. CONCLUSIONS The structured and lifestyle interventions were equally effective at the end of the intervention. One year after the intervention the lifestyle group maintained a significant increase in physical activity, which highlights the potential of lifestyle programs in the battle against inactivity in older adults.

A 2-Year Follow-Up of a Lifestyle Physical Activity Versus a Structured Exercise Intervention in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long‐term effects of a lifestyle intervention and a structured exercise intervention on physical fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in older adults.

Unwanted sexual experiences in sport: Perceptions and reported prevalence among Flemish female student-athletes

Abstract The major aims of this study were to quantify the reported prevalence of unwanted sexual experiences involving male coaches among a sample of Flemish female student‐athletes and to investigate the latters perceptions of the acceptability of related coaching behaviors. A questionnaire based on the research of Volkwein, Schnell, Sherwood, and Livezy (1997), Brackenridge (1997), Toftegaard‐Nielsen (2001), and Fejgen and Hanegby (2001), probing the reported prevalence and perceptions of unacceptable, sexual coach behaviors, was completed by 435 student‐athletes at a Catholic university (N = 291) and at a liberal, non‐religiously affiliated university (N = 144). Despite significant differences in perceptions between the students at the two universities, no differences were found between the reported prevalence of unacceptable and serious sexual coach behaviors. The reported prevalence was comparable to prevalence data reported in the USA, the UK, Australia, and the Scandinavian countries

Effectiveness of a lifestyle physical activity intervention in a women's organization.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a minimal contact physical activity intervention that was maximally integrated into the existing structures of a womens organization. METHODS The intervention included one group meeting, a self-help booklet, and five monthly reminder letters and was implemented in four units of a rural womens organization. Two other units served as control group. Pretest and posttest measurements were completed by 81 women in the intervention group and 88 in the control group. Physical activity was assessed at baseline and at 6 months with accelerometers and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS There was a significant interaction between time and group for the total accelerometer activity counts (p = 0.007). Total activity counts increased in the intervention group, whereas there was a decrease in the control group. No significant results were found with the IPAQ. CONCLUSIONS An intervention in a womens organization was effective in increasing the objectively measured physical activity levels of its members. These results indicate that womens organizations can be valuable settings for physical activity promotion programs. The minimal number of contact hours and the use of existing structures and communication channels are important strengths for later implementation.

A simple health sign increases stair use in a shopping mall and two train stations in Flanders, Belgium

The aim of this study was to test the impact of a simple health-promotion sign on stair use in three community settings in Flanders, Belgium. A health sign was placed at the junction between the stairs and an escalator in a shopping mall and two train stations. Observations took place on four days: baseline, first intervention, post-intervention and second intervention. In the second station, a second post-intervention phase was added. In total, 1437 choices of shoppers were registered in the mall, while 2869 and 2025 choices of commuters were recorded in the two stations, respectively. Despite the different baselines of stair use, the introduction of the health sign in the first intervention phase resulted in a significant increase in all three settings: 10.0% increase in the mall, 8.6% in the first station and 18.0% in the second station. In the second station, the increase during the second intervention exceeded that of the first intervention. Moreover, in this station stair use in the second post-intervention phase was significantly higher than at baseline. An inexpensive health-promoting sign has a substantial effect on the proportion of stair users among shoppers and commuters. Preliminary evidence was found that repeated exposure to a health sign might have a longer term effect on stair use.

Long-term effectiveness and mediators of a need-supportive physical activity coaching among Flemish sedentary employees

This study examined the long-term and mediation effects of a need-supportive coaching programme on physical activity. Sedentary employees (n = 92) of the university of Leuven received 4 months of physical activity coaching, based on the self-determination theory, by coaches with a bachelors degree in kinesiology who are specializing in health-related physical activity (n = 30). The programme consisted of a limited number of individual contact moments (i.e. an intake session, three follow-up contacts and an out-take session), either face-to-face, by phone or by e-mail. Self-reported physical activity, social support, self-efficacy and autonomous motivation were assessed in the coaching group (n = 92) and a control group (n = 34) at three moments: before the intervention (i.e. pre-test), after the intervention (i.e. post-test) and 1 year after pre-test measurements (i.e. follow-up test). Results revealed significant 3 (time) × 2 (groups) interaction effects on strenuous and total physical activity. Moreover, whereas the control group remained stable from pre- to post-test, the coaching group increased significantly in moderate, strenuous and total physical activity. Additionally, the coaching group increased significantly in mild, moderate, strenuous and total physical activity from pre- to follow-up tests, whereas the control group did not change. Bootstrapping analyses indicated that self-efficacy and autonomous motivation significantly mediated the intervention effect on physical activity from pre- to post-test, while social support significantly mediated the long-term effect. This study provides evidence for the long-term effectiveness of a need-supportive physical activity programme that might be efficient at the community level.

The added value of a brief self-efficacy coaching on the effectiveness of a 12-week physical activity program.

BACKGROUND Self-efficacy has been found to be an important precondition for behavioral change in sedentary people. The current study examined the effectiveness and added value of including a 15-minute self-efficacy coaching at the start of a 12-week lifestyle physical activity (PA) program. METHODS Participants were randomly assigned to a standard-intervention group (without additional self-efficacy coaching, N = 116) or extra-intervention group (with additional self-efficacy coaching, N = 111). Body mass index (BMI), cardiovascular fitness, self-reported PA, and self-efficacy beliefs were assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention period. Perceived adherence to the PA program was assessed postintervention. RESULTS At posttest, a significant increase in cardiovascular fitness and decrease in BMI were found in both groups. Significant intervention effects emerged on PA behavior, self-efficacy, and program adherence, in favor of the extra-intervention group. Self-efficacy mediated the intervention effect on program adherence whereas no evidence was found for its role as mediator of PA change. CONCLUSIONS Adding a 15-minute self-efficacy coaching at the start of a lifestyle PA program is a promising strategy to enhance the intervention effects on PA behavior, self-efficacy beliefs, and program adherence. However, the role of self-efficacy as mediator of the intervention effect on in PA was not fully supported.