Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i

Introduction. Enhance®Fitness is a low-cost group exercise program designed specifically for older adults (60+ years) to improve physical performance. The Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership, a statewide health promotion initiative, has continuously offered Enhance®Fitness to Hawai‘i’s multicultural p...

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Main Authors: Michiyo Tomioka, Kathryn L. Braun, Yan Yan Wu, Kay Holt, Paula Keele, Lori Tsuhako, Johnny Yago
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9836181
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author Michiyo Tomioka
Kathryn L. Braun
Yan Yan Wu
Kay Holt
Paula Keele
Lori Tsuhako
Johnny Yago
author_facet Michiyo Tomioka
Kathryn L. Braun
Yan Yan Wu
Kay Holt
Paula Keele
Lori Tsuhako
Johnny Yago
author_sort Michiyo Tomioka
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Enhance®Fitness is a low-cost group exercise program designed specifically for older adults (60+ years) to improve physical performance. The Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership, a statewide health promotion initiative, has continuously offered Enhance®Fitness to Hawai‘i’s multicultural population since 2007. This study examined 12-month participation in and impact of Enhance®Fitness on physical performance among older adults in Hawai‘i. Method. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to analyze the physical performance measures (chair-stands, arm curls, and the up-and-go test) collected at baseline (month 0) and at 4, 8, and 12 months. We also compared the characteristics of participants who participated in the program for 12 months with those who dropped out in order to gain insights on participant retention. Results. Of 1,202 older adults with baseline data, 427 (35.5%) were continuously enrolled in Enhance®Fitness for 12 months and participated in follow-up data collection. On average, participants attended 63.7% of thrice-weekly classes each month. Participants’ physical performance measures improved after 4 months, continued to improve until 8 months, and were maintained thereafter. Besides continuous attendance, performance-measure improvements were associated with younger age, male gender, living with others (vs. alone), and fewer chronic conditions. Compared to those who completed 12 months of the program, the 775 who left the program over the course of the year were more likely to be younger, to be Caucasian (vs. Asian or Pacific Islander), to self-report depression as a chronic condition, and to have lower levels of fitness at baseline. Common reasons for dropping out were illness, relocation, time conflicts, lost interest, and transportation issues. Conclusions. Long-term participants in Enhance®Fitness initially improved and then maintained physical performance. Future research is needed to identify strategies to maintain enrollment of older adults in the exercise programs over time.
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spelling doaj-art-b0a1fcf3c20a49ac9c7ccd95e1b87d4b2025-02-03T06:12:11ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22042090-22122019-01-01201910.1155/2019/98361819836181Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘iMichiyo Tomioka0Kathryn L. Braun1Yan Yan Wu2Kay Holt3Paula Keele4Lori Tsuhako5Johnny Yago6Center on the Family, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USAOffice of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USAOffice of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USAKaua‘i Agency on Elderly Affairs, Pi‘ikoi Building, 4444 Rice Street, Suite 330, Lihue, Kaua‘i, HI 96766, USAMaui County Office on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Center, Department of Housing and Human Concerns, J. Walter Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani Street, Room 20, Wailuku, HI 96793, USAMaui County Office on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Center, Department of Housing and Human Concerns, J. Walter Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani Street, Room 20, Wailuku, HI 96793, USAKaua‘i Agency on Elderly Affairs, Pi‘ikoi Building, 4444 Rice Street, Suite 330, Lihue, Kaua‘i, HI 96766, USAIntroduction. Enhance®Fitness is a low-cost group exercise program designed specifically for older adults (60+ years) to improve physical performance. The Hawai‘i Healthy Aging Partnership, a statewide health promotion initiative, has continuously offered Enhance®Fitness to Hawai‘i’s multicultural population since 2007. This study examined 12-month participation in and impact of Enhance®Fitness on physical performance among older adults in Hawai‘i. Method. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to analyze the physical performance measures (chair-stands, arm curls, and the up-and-go test) collected at baseline (month 0) and at 4, 8, and 12 months. We also compared the characteristics of participants who participated in the program for 12 months with those who dropped out in order to gain insights on participant retention. Results. Of 1,202 older adults with baseline data, 427 (35.5%) were continuously enrolled in Enhance®Fitness for 12 months and participated in follow-up data collection. On average, participants attended 63.7% of thrice-weekly classes each month. Participants’ physical performance measures improved after 4 months, continued to improve until 8 months, and were maintained thereafter. Besides continuous attendance, performance-measure improvements were associated with younger age, male gender, living with others (vs. alone), and fewer chronic conditions. Compared to those who completed 12 months of the program, the 775 who left the program over the course of the year were more likely to be younger, to be Caucasian (vs. Asian or Pacific Islander), to self-report depression as a chronic condition, and to have lower levels of fitness at baseline. Common reasons for dropping out were illness, relocation, time conflicts, lost interest, and transportation issues. Conclusions. Long-term participants in Enhance®Fitness initially improved and then maintained physical performance. Future research is needed to identify strategies to maintain enrollment of older adults in the exercise programs over time.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9836181
spellingShingle Michiyo Tomioka
Kathryn L. Braun
Yan Yan Wu
Kay Holt
Paula Keele
Lori Tsuhako
Johnny Yago
Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i
Journal of Aging Research
title Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i
title_full Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i
title_fullStr Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i
title_full_unstemmed Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i
title_short Twelve-Month Retention in and Impact of Enhance®Fitness on Older Adults in Hawai‘i
title_sort twelve month retention in and impact of enhance r fitness on older adults in hawai i
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9836181
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