Objectives: To develop and test a counselling programme based on the Transtheoretical Model of behavioural change, for promoting exercise in people over the age of 65.
Method: The sample (n = 448) consisted of women and men aged between 65 and 92, recruited from Swiss GPs' practices between 2000 and 2004. After a baseline measurement (T1) and an initial counselling session, they received two counselling sessions, followed by a 12-month follow-up (T2). Changes in exercise behaviour were recorded by means of stage classification and the time spent on everyday moderate-intensity activities that increase the breathing rate.
Results: At T1 there was a tendency for women to be less physically active than men. T1 to T2 the proportion of inactive people fell from 12.2% to 4.2%, and the proportion of people sufficiently active rose from 19.0 % to 31.3 %. The changes in stage were significant in both men and women. At T2 more than half of the participants in the study spent more time exercising.
Conclusions: The results indicate that, with counselling, the exercise behaviour of the elderly can be positively influenced over a 1-year period.