Improving the functional fitness of older adults through Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together (LIFT): Use of an integrated research-practice partnership approach in community and clinical settings
| dc.contributor.author | Wilson, Meghan Loving | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Harden, Samantha M. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Hedrick, Valisa E. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Zoellner, Jamie M. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Washburn, Lisa | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Frisard, Madlyn I. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Johnson, Sarah Elizabeth | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-04-24T08:00:48Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2018-04-24T08:00:48Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-04-23 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Older adults represent one of the fastest growing populations as well as one of the most inactive. The effects of inactivity (e.g., fall risk, reduced quality of life, inability to age in place) may be mitigated through health promotion programs that include strength-training components. In addition to targeted exercises, it is recommended that programs for older adults incorporate principles of group dynamics (e.g., group goal setting, group distinctiveness) as these types of interventions have previously increased adherence and compliance of physical activity beyond the life of the program and are more effective than individually delivered interventions (e.g., at home DVD, one-on-one). However, these programs are not readily adopted and sustained in practice, which could reflect a lack of programmatic fit within the intended delivery setting. Forming a partnership with key stakeholders within the intended practice setting (e.g., communities and clinics) to identify or develop an evidence-based program that satisfies the mission, values, and resources of the deliver setting, may influence program uptake and sustainability. It is essential to assess setting- and staff-level perceptions of program fit prior to successful implementation. Once interventions are embedded within the standards of care or practice, the intervention has the potential to reach a greater number of older adults and improve their functional fitness outcomes. These intervention attributes are outlined in the prominent RE-AIM Framework: Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance. Taken together, practice- and research- adaptations may increase the adoption of an intervention, and it is necessary to also measure the degree to which an adapted program impacts Reach, Effect, Implementation, and Maintenance. Practice- and evidence-based adaptations are often necessary and inevitable to improve intervention fit within an intended delivery setting. The overall objective of this dissertation was to use an integrated research-practice partnership approach to select, adapt, and evaluate effects of a multi-faceted strength-training program for older adults in community and clinical settings. The aim of Manuscript 1 was to describe the process by which an evidence-based intervention was adapted to meet the needs of a community entity as well as the initial Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance dimensions of the RE-AIM framework. Manuscript 2 aims to evaluate the initial Reach of older adults and Effect on functional fitness of the adapted program, LIFT, to generate evidence in support of the adapted intervention through an integrated research-practice partnership with a community entity. Manuscript 3 outlines the development, processes, and temporal outcomes of an integrated research-practice partnership approach aimed at linking stakeholders across the academic-clinical-community continuum to assess feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness outcomes associated with Implementation of a LIFT referral scheme. Based on the research presented in this dissertation, it is concluded that an integrated research-practice partnership, although time intensive, may be an effective approach to report real-world adaptations based on the needs of the delivery setting without compromising effects of an evidence-based strength-training intervention for older adults. | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | Older adults represent one of the fastest growing populations as well as one of the most inactive. The effects of inactivity (e.g., fall risk, reduced quality of life, inability to age in place) may be mitigated through health promotion programs that include strength-training components. In addition to targeted exercises, it is recommended that programs for older adults incorporate principles of group dynamics (e.g., group goal setting, group distinctiveness) as these types of interventions have previously increased adherence and compliance of physical activity beyond the life of the program and are more effective than individually delivered interventions (e.g., at home DVD, one-on-one). However, these programs are not readily integrated into standard practice, which could reflect a lack of programmatic fit within the intended delivery setting. Forming a partnership with key stakeholders of the intended practice setting (e.g., communities and clinics) may influence program adoption and sustainability. It is essential to assess delivery personnel perceptions of intervention ‘fit’ at the forefront of implementation. Once interventions are embedded within the standards of care or practice, the intervention has the potential to improve outcomes such as reaching a greater number of older adults and improving their functional fitness, or the ability to complete activities of daily living with ease. Taken together, adaptations may increase the uptake of an intervention, and it is necessary to also measure the degree to which an adapted program impacts the reach of the target population, effectiveness, consistency of delivery in the intended delivery setting, and sustainability. The overall objective of this dissertation was to use an integrated research-practice partnership approach to select, adapt, and evaluate effects of a multi-faceted strength-training program for older adults in community and clinical settings. The aim of Manuscript 1 was to describe the process by which an evidence-based intervention was adapted to meet the needs of a community entity as well as the initial uptake, delivery, and sustainability. Manuscript 2 evaluates the initial reach of older adult participants in a community-based setting and the effect on functional fitness of the adapted program through an integrated research-practice partnership. Manuscript 3 outlines the development, processes, and temporal outcomes of an integrated research-practice partnership aimed at linking stakeholders across the academic-clinical-community continuum to assess perceptions of intervention ‘fit’ within a clinical setting. Based on the research presented in this dissertation, it is concluded that an integrated research-practice partnership, although time intensive, may be an effective approach to report real-world adaptations of an evidence-based intervention based on the needs of the delivery personnel without compromising effects on improving the functional fitness of older adults. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Ph. D. | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:14765 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/82869 | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | older adults | en |
| dc.subject | physical activity | en |
| dc.subject | functional fitness | en |
| dc.subject | RE-AIM | en |
| dc.title | Improving the functional fitness of older adults through Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together (LIFT): Use of an integrated research-practice partnership approach in community and clinical settings | en |
| dc.type | Dissertation | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Ph. D. | en |
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