Thesis
Acceptability and preliminary efficacy of an exercise is medicine physical activity intervention
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2020
DOI: 10.17077/etd.005380
Abstract
ABSTRACT
According to the World Health Organization, inactivity is the fourth leading cause of mortality, globally, but less than 10% of adults in the U.S. are meeting the physical activity guidelines (Tucker et al., 2011; World Health Organization, 2009). The Exercise is Medicine initiative proposes integrating physical activity into the healthcare system as a systematic approach for measuring physical activity behaviors of patients and promoting physical activity for those who are inactive. To date, few implementation examples for Exercise is Medicine exist due to a number of barriers. Specifically, few community-based resources are in place that can provide patients with high quality physical activity counseling. To address this gap, our group developed an innovative Exercise is Medicine program that leverages resources available at a large university medical system. The intervention included 10 weeks of health coaching provided by trained student health coaches plus access to physical activity education materials and a wearable activity monitor. This study tested the acceptability and efficacy of a 10-week Exercise is Medicine intervention on physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, and quality of life among 37 participants. Of the 50 participants enrolled in the study, 38 completed for a 24% attrition rate. Participants had an average age of 48.2 years and average BMI of 30.1 kg/m2. Wilcoxon signed ranked tests were used to determine the difference between baseline and post-intervention measures. Neither physical activity (Z = - .845 p = .398) or exercise self-efficacy (Z = - .573, p = .566) improved from baseline to post-intervention. Participants did report significant improvements in quality of life over the course of the intervention (Z = -2.587, p = .010). Future studies are needed to refine and test the efficacy of this student-learning model by adjusting the screening tools and intervention features.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Acceptability and preliminary efficacy of an exercise is medicine physical activity intervention
- Creators
- Madeline Dohleman
- Contributors
- Lucas Carr (Advisor)Kara Whitaker (Committee Member)Faryle Nothwehr (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Health and Human Physiology
- Date degree season
- Spring 2020
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.005380
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- ix, 43 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2020 Madeline Dohleman
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- illustrations (chiefly color)
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 36-41).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Physical activity has many benefits, but most people do not regularly include physical activity as a part of their lifestyle. In attempt to provide a community with resources to promote physical activity, this intervention provided participants with a health coach, Fitbit activity monitor, printable educational materials, and daily motivational/educational messages. Our objective was to evaluate if and how these tools would influence adult’s physical activity behaviors, confidence in performing physical activity and quality of life. After 10 weeks of participating in the program, quality of life improved. There were no observed changes in physical activity behavior or confidence in performing physical activity. Our team will continue to use feedback from participants to improve the program and measure outcomes.
- Academic Unit
- Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
- Record Identifier
- 9983949691702771
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