Factors associated with enrollment of older adults into a physical activity promotion program

J Aging Health. 1996 Feb;8(1):96-113. doi: 10.1177/089826439600800105.

Abstract

This article investigates the extent to which a proactive two-phased recruitment approach resulted in recruitment of a representative sample of older adults from two lower income congregate housing facilities into a physical activity promotion program. Enrollees were similar to nonenrollees with respect to education, gender, marital status, race/ethnicity, self-rated health, physical functioning, psychological distress, exercise frequency, level of social contact, having a confidant, use of alcohol, and smoking status. However, enrollees were younger, more likely to speak English as a primary language, less likely to be completely sedentary, and more likely to be overweight. Overall, 21% of the target population were recruited into the program. Recruitment strategies such as those used in this study appeared to enable enrollment of a reasonably representative sample of a small well-defined population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Exercise*
  • Health Promotion*
  • Health Services for the Aged
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Program Evaluation*
  • Social Environment
  • Socioeconomic Factors*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires