%0 Journal Article %T Physiotherapist-led home-based physical activity program versus community group exercise for middle-aged adults: Quasi-experimental comparison %A Nicole Freene %A Gordon Waddington %A Wendy Chesworth %A Rachel Davey %A Tom Cochrane %J Open Journal of Preventive Medicine %P 229-237 %@ 2162-2485 %D 2013 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/ojpm.2013.32031 %X

Objectives: Program method, program deliverer and participant preference may be important factors in increasing physical activity adherence and program effectiveness. To investigate this, we compared two physical activity interventions in middle-aged adults. Methods: Using a pragmatic quasi-experimental design, sedentary community dwelling 50 - 65 year olds (n = 2105) were recruited to a non-randomized 6-month community group exercise program (n = 93) or a physiotherapist-led home-based physical activity program (n = 65). The primary outcome was physical activity adherence derived from exercise diaries. Secondary outcomes included the Active Australia Survey, aerobic capacity (step- test), quality of life (SF-12v2), blood pressure, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index. Results: Home-based participants were more likely to be younger, working full-time and not in a relationship (p < 0.05). Thirty-three percent of the group participants attended ¡Ý 70% of group exercise sessions. Ninety percent of home-based participants received ¡Ý 4 of the planned 6 telephone support calls. Intention-to-treat analysis found adherence to the physical activity sessions prescribed was the same for both interventions (26% ¡À 28% vs. 28% ¡À 35%). Both interventions significantly increased the number of participants achieving self-reported ¡°sufficient¡± physical activity (p ¡Ü 0.001) and significantly decreased waist circumference (