A Pilot Program of Physical Activity Promotion among Clients Receiving Home and Community Care

• Published in: Australian health review 2008-08, Vol.32 (3), p.439-450
• Main Authors: Cameron, Melainie, Chahine, Natalie, Selig, Steve, Newton, Pam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analysis; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; Community health care; Disabled Persons - classification; Disabled Persons - rehabilitation; Disease; Exercise; Government Programs - organization & administration; Health administration; Health and hygiene; Health aspects; Health behavior; Health care; Health care delivery; Health care expenditures; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Health Status; Health surveys; Home care services; Home Care Services - organization & administration; Home care services industry; Home health care; Humans; Intervention; Local Government; Management; Medical research; Mental health; Middle Aged; Models, Organizational; Older people; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Perceptions; Personal grooming; Physical Fitness; Physical fitness for older people; Pilot Projects; Program Evaluation; Psychological aspects; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Statistical significance; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Victoria; Wellness programs
• ISSN: 0156-5788; 1449-8944
• DOI: 10.1071/AH080439

Three Victorian local governments cooperated in a pilot study of physical activity promotion as part of home and community care (HACC) service delivery. Thirty-one people receiving HACC volunteered to participate, including completing the Transtheoretical Stages of Change Exercise Questionnaire and the short-form Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) just before and at 3 months and 6 months after starting regular self-selected physical activity. Twenty-one participants returned questionnaires at 3 months, and 17 participants returned questionnaires at 6 months. Data were analysed using paired t tests and effect sizes were calculated as mean differences. At 3 months, mean improvements were identified on 6 of the 8 HAQDI (disability index) subscales, and in the overall HAQ-DI score. Improvement in dressing and grooming was preserved at 6 months. At either 3 or 6 months, improvements in dressing and grooming, reach, hygiene, and daily activities, and overall HAQ-DI score exceeded the minimum clinically important difference. No improvements were statistically significant, as is likely in a pilot study with a small sample, however, these results suggest that even very small increases in physical activity may afford clinically meaningful improvements in some areas of physical function required for independent living.