Primary Outcome Measures:
- Change in physical activity of those allocated to the intervention group compared to "wait-listed" controls as measured by the Seattle-Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity questionnaire [ Time Frame: 1 year ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Change in level of activity for those contacted by community support program [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Change in activity level for those having a peer counselor [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Change in Hemoglobin A1c levels [ Time Frame: 1 year ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Determinants of choice in favor of study participation [ Time Frame: does not apply ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Intervention Details:
Behavioral: Motivational support
Participants in the PALS program at SE Seattle Senior Center are assigned a volunteer phone buddy who uses motivational interviewing techniques during bi weekly or monthly phone calls to encourage the participant to become more physically active.
Behavioral: PALS - Physical activity for lifetime success
Referral by a primary care provider to a community based support program to enhance uptake or maintenance of physical activity by the participants.
The MY PALS project will focus on developing an organized approach to increasing physical activity for clients who have already decided they are willing to increase activity or who might be having difficulty maintaining activity.
The MY PALS study will enroll consenting patients at clinics in Southeast Seattle-initially at two Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Center community clinics. These clinics have existing programs to provide better care for diabetic patients by encouraging and tracking physical activity, but the existing programs do not include community-based motivational supports.
Goals and objectives: The primary aim of My PALS is to determine the effectiveness of a support program to improve levels of physical activity in older diabetic patients in a diverse group of patients of clinics in SE Seattle. Secondary aims include: 1) identifying barriers to increased physical activity despite the offer or use of enhanced supports, and examining what those barriers imply for future study; and 2) estimating non-costs of the intervention.
The program consists of phone support, in-person counseling if the volunteer chooses, and access to a mentor if the volunteer chooses.
At initial contact, participants will complete a baseline questionnaire, including a the Seattle Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (Seattle-RAPA). Participants desiring to meet in person with a peer counselor will discuss further plans for action and followup. In addition, participants who desire extra support will be offered the option of an ongoing peer mentor.
Participants will receive follow-up calls at the agreed upon intervals—usually no more than weekly, nor less than monthly for the first 3 months. At 3, 6 and 12 months, volunteers will again be asked to complete followup questionnaires. Copies of the plans and follow up activity scores will be sent to the volunteers' health care providers.
The primary outcome measure will be change in Seattle-RAPA score at 12 months in the intervention participants compared to the wait-listed control patients. The latter will be offered the intervention in Year 2.
Purpose
