Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of an
individualized exercise programme with and without behavioural change enhancement
strategies for frail older people with fatigue.
DESIGN: A three-arm,
single-blinded, quasi-experimental pilot study. SETTING: Community health
centres. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 79 frail older people with fatigue, mean age
79.32 years (+/-7.72). INTERVENTIONS: The combined group received a 16-week
combined intervention consisting of exercise training and a behavioural change
enhancement programme. The exercise group received exercise training and health
talks, whereas the control group received only health talks. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURE(S): Feasibility was assessed through the participants' recruitment,
retention, attendance and adherence, feedback, and reports of adverse events. The
preliminary effects were assessed by the participants' level of fatigue, physical
endurance, self-efficacy, and self-perceived compliance with exercise. RESULTS:
Feasibility was achievable with high recruitment (87.2%) and low overall
attrition (7.1%) rates. A similar reduction in fatigue was identified in all
groups, but a trend of greater improvement in physical endurance was observed in
the combined group than in the other two groups. The combined group also had a
significantly better attendance rate [F(2,76) = 5.64, p < 0.01)] and higher
self-perceived exercise compliance than the exercise group. CONCLUSION: The
combined intervention has the potential to enhance the participants' adherence to
exercise regimens by improving their attendance in training sessions and their
self-perceived exercise compliance. They are important to maintaining an
appropriate level of engagement in daily exercises, especially at the beginning
stages of behavioural change, when the participants are establishing the habit of
exercising daily.

Langue : ANGLAIS