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Active Choices

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Active Choices is a telephone-based lifestyle behavior change program targeting adults aged ≥50 years designed to increase physical activity, grounded in social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model. This promising practice is delivered through one face-to-face meeting and up to eight one-on-one telephone counseling calls.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this promising practice is to increase physical activity in a diverse older adult population.

Impact

Participants in the Active Choices program showed significant increases in physical activity and a greater satisfaction with their body appearance and function. Participants of the program also showed decreases in their BMI.

Results / Accomplishments

The program was first rigorously evaluated in a series of randomized controlled trials and shown to be efficacious. It then was evaluated in a dissemination study using a quasi-experimental design. Nine lead organizations at 12 sites participated in the evaluation. Active Choices participants (n=2503) averaged 65.8 years (80% women, 41% non-Hispanic white). Significant increases in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, total physical activity, and satisfaction with body appearance and function, and decreases in BMI were seen for the Active Choices program.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Stanford Prevention Research Center
Primary Contact
Dr. Abby King
Stanford Prevention Research Center
Stanford University School of Medicine
Hoover Pavilion, Rm. N229
211 Quarry Road, Stanford CA 94305-5705
king@stanford.edu
https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/abby-king
Topics
Health / Older Adults
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
Stanford Prevention Research Center
Source
American Journal of Preventive Medicine 35(4)
Date of publication
Oct 2008
Location
San Francisco
For more details
http://www.ajpm-online.net/article/S0749-3797(08)0...
Target Audience
Older Adults

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Related Content for: Active Choices

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.