A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial

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Date
2025-01-08
Authors
Kokorelias, Kristina M.
Ripat, Jacquie D.
Barclay, Ruth
Jones, C. A.
Mayo, Nancy E.
Grant, Theresa
Scodras, Stephanie
Alsbury-Nealy, Kyla
Ryder-Burbidge, Charlotte
Salbach, Nancy M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC
Abstract

Abstract Background The Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial showed that a workshop and 10-week park-based outdoor walk group (OWG) was superior to the workshop and 10 weekly reminders (WR) with increasing walking capacity, but not outdoor walking activity, health-promoting behavior, or successful aging, among older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. The objective of this planned process evaluation was to explore participants’ perceptions of mechanisms of impact of and contextual factors influencing experiences with the interventions to help explain the observed intervention effects on study outcomes. Methods A qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured interviews conducted at 6-months post-baseline was conducted. A directed content analysis was undertaken. Participants We interviewed 27 adults (52% male, 48% female, mean age 76 years) from the OWG (n = 13) and WR group (n = 14). Results We identified two themes including: “Holding Me Accountable to Walk More Frequently”, and “We Walked Farther, With More Ease and Confidence, and We Felt Better”. Participants in both groups described how the OWG and WR programs provided some degree of structure and accountability to others that increased their motivation to walk outdoors. Participants described how the OWG led to improved walking capacity (e.g., increased walking distance) and confidence. Interacting with people during OWG sessions led to a sense of enjoyment, and well-being. Conclusions Community programs that incorporate structure, accountability, and opportunities for social interaction, can help improve motivation to increase outdoor walking activity and a sense of belonging for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. Park-based OWG programs appear to convey additional important benefits related to improved physical function and well-being. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03292510 Date of registration: September 25, 2017.

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Keywords
Older adults, Outdoor walking, Physical activity, Randomized controlled trial, Task-oriented training, Parks, Community exercise program, Qualitative process evaluation
Citation
BMC Geriatrics. 2025 Jan 08;25(1):16