The Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Activity Profiles in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Johnson, Nathaniel; Bradley, Adam; Klawitter, Lukus; Johnson, Jane; Johnson, Lance; Tomkinson, Grant R.; Hackney, Kyle J.; Stastny, Sherri; Ehlers, Diane K.; McGrath, Ryan

doi:10.3390/geriatrics6030068

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The Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Activity Profiles in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

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Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA

Department of Education, Health and Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA

Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5501, Australia

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Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA

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Fargo VA Healthcare System, Fargo, ND 58102, USA

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Academic Editor: Ralf Lobmann

Geriatrics 2021, 6(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6030068

Received: 28 May 2021 / Revised: 17 June 2021 / Accepted: 28 June 2021 / Published: 30 June 2021

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Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health concern for older adults. Telehealth presents a safe platform for conducting health-related interventions that may have additional benefits such as widespread reach. Our pilot study sought to examine how a telehealth intervention changed activity profiles in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: There were n = 13 adults aged 70.6 ± 4.5 years that participated in a 6 week telehealth intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The didactic intervention contents were shared online, and participants worked with trained interviewers over the telephone to discuss physical activity. At baseline and post-intervention, the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults examined activity profiles, while accelerometry estimated time spent sedentary and in physical activity. Results: Relative to the baseline measures, there was an 88 min/day (95% confidence interval (CI): 39, 137) increase in computer time and 36 min/day (CI: 10, 62) reduction in time spent in active transport at post-intervention. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity participation also increased by an estimated 2 min/day (CI: −21, 26) and 12 min/week (CI: −154, 180), but this trend was not statistically significant. Conclusion: We recommend that support be provided to older adults transitioning to telehealth, especially as migration to telehealth progresses. View Full-Text

Keywords: aging; computers; exercise; geriatrics; internet; movement; telemedicine

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MDPI and ACS Style

Johnson, N.; Bradley, A.; Klawitter, L.; Johnson, J.; Johnson, L.; Tomkinson, G.R.; Hackney, K.J.; Stastny, S.; Ehlers, D.K.; McGrath, R. The Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Activity Profiles in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study. Geriatrics 2021, 6, 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6030068

AMA Style

Johnson N, Bradley A, Klawitter L, Johnson J, Johnson L, Tomkinson GR, Hackney KJ, Stastny S, Ehlers DK, McGrath R. The Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Activity Profiles in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study. Geriatrics. 2021; 6(3):68. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6030068

Chicago/Turabian Style

Johnson, Nathaniel, Adam Bradley, Lukus Klawitter, Jane Johnson, Lance Johnson, Grant R. Tomkinson, Kyle J. Hackney, Sherri Stastny, Diane K. Ehlers, and Ryan McGrath. 2021. "The Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Activity Profiles in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study" Geriatrics 6, no. 3: 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6030068

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