Table 2 Characteristics of studies included in analysis stage 2 (n = 11)
Study | Quality | Location | Study design | Sample characteristics | Intervention | Physical activity outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Longitudinal study designs with two or more comparison groups | ||||||
Van Stralen et al. (2010) [57] | A, 4 | Netherlands | Cluster RCT, IG1 (2 MHC) n a = 428, IG2 (2 MHC) n = 455, CG (2 MHC) n = 465 Follow-up = 12 months | ≥50 years, community dwelling adults | IG1: 3 tailored letters; personalized PA advice targeting psychosocial determinants during 4 months IG2: IG1 plus tailored environmental information CG: Waiting-list | Self-report: Dutch SQUASH (total weekly min of PA, transport cycling, transport walking, leisure cycling, leisure walking, gardening, doing odd jobs, sports) |
Peels et al. (2013) [54] | A, 4 | Netherlands | Cluster RCT, IG1 (1 MHC) n a = 275, IG2 (1 MHC) n = 256, IG3 (2 MHC) n = 214, IG4 (1 MHC) n = 193, CG (1 MHC) n = 310 Follow-up = 12 months | ≥50 years, community dwelling, sufficient understanding of Dutch language | IG1: 3 tailored letters; personalized PA advice targeting psychosocial determinants during 4 months IG2: IG1 plus tailored environmental information IG3: Web-based version of IG1 IG4: Web-based version of IG2 CG: Waiting-list | Self-report: Dutch SQUASH (total weekly days of sufficient PA (≥30 min), total weekly min of moderate to vigorous PA) |
Harris et al. (2015) [52] | A, 5 | UK | Cluster RCT, IG (118 households) n a = 142, CG (117 households) n = 138 Follow-up = 3 months | 60–74 years, general practice registered patients, no contra-indications to increase PA | IG: 4 tailored primary care nurse delivered PA consultations over 3 months, pedometer and accelerometer feedback, individual PA diary and plan CG: Usual care | Objective: Accelerometer (average daily step-count) |
Poulsen et al. (2007) [55] | A, 4 | Denmark | Prospective controlled randomized follow-up study, IG (17 municipalities) n a = 997, CG (17 municipalities) n = 916 Follow-up 4.5 years | 75- and 80-years, non-institutionalized | IG: Preventive home visits as part of daily routine in primary care plus education of home visitors over 3 years, group-based education of GPs CG: Preventive home visits | Self-report: Frequency of PA (‘high’ if >2×/month, ‘low’ if ≤ 1-2×/months) |
Nahm et al. (2010) [53] | A, 5 | USA | RCT, IG n b = 115, CG n = 100 Follow-up = 3 months | ≥55 years, access to Internet/e-mail and able to use it independently, able to read and write English | IG: Social Cognitive Theory-based Structured Hip Fracture Prevention Website; learning modules, moderated discussion board, diaries CG: Conventional website | Self-report: Exercise dimension of the YPAS (weekly min of exercise) |
Capodaglio et al. (2007) [47] | A, 2 | Italy | Quasi experimental study, IG n b = 23, CG n = 15 Follow-up = 12 months | 70–83 years, healthy, community-dwelling | IG: 1-year mixed strength training programme; 2×/week supervised exercise classes in hospital gym and 1×/week home sessions, encouragement of doing 30 min/week outdoor aerobic exercise CG: No intervention | Self-report: Paquap® (MDEE, aerobic activities >3 MET (AA3), PA intensity classes) |
Longitudinal study designs with one group pre-post design | ||||||
Croteau & Richeson (2005) [48] | C, 3 | USA | Before-and-after study, n a = 76 Follow-up = 4 months | 60–90 years, living in congregate housing/community-dwelling, able to ambulate independently, no contraindications to PA | 4-month community-based PA intervention (“A Matter of Health Walking Program”); goal setting, activity selection, self-monitoring, pedometer | Objective: Pedometer (daily step count) |
Gellert et al. (2011) [50] | C, 3 | Germany | Before-and-after study, n a = 302 Follow-up = 1 month | >60 years, no medical contraindications to PA | Intervention leaflet; goal setting, PA plan | Self-report: Adopted version of German-PAQ-50+ (weekly days of PA ≥30 min) |
Fitzpatrick et al. (2008) [49] | C, 4 | USA | Before-and-after study, n b = 418 Follow-up = 5-6 months | 98% ≥60 years | 4-month community-based PA intervention in senior centers; 16 chair exercises (strength, balance, flexibility, endurance), encouragement of walking, encouragement of doing exercise at home, pedometer | Self-report: Exercise items from SDSCA, 1998 BRFSS (daily min of PA) |
Ståhl et al. (2013) [56] | C, 3 | Sweden | Before-and-after study, n b = 195 Follow-up = 5 years | ≥65 years | 4-year outdoor environment intervention focused on improved accessibility/usability and safety/security as part of the “Let’s go for a walk” project | Self-report: Frequency of walking (within residential area) and of activity (within city area) |
Cross-sectional study design with control group | ||||||
Hallgrimsdottir et al. (2015) [51] | NA, 5 | Sweden | Cross-sectional study, IG n b = 358, CG n = 288 | ≥65 years | IG: See Stahl et al. [56] CG: Reference area without environmental intervention | Self-report: See Stahl et al. [56] |