Intervention to increase participation in physical activity for adult

Physical activity levels in Malaysia adults are low. There is a growing problem of physical inactivity and approximately a quarter of the population report being completely sedentary. Research supports the use of the social cognitive theory in designing physical activity intervention. The aim of the study to increase the level of sedentary and inactive adults to involve in physical activity with self-learning element for helping them to increase participation in physical activity. This study used 12 weeks intervention pre-post quasi-experimental time series design with single subject. 22 volunteer participant (5 men and 17 women) staffs from teaching college in Terengganu completed this study. The inclusion criteria was sedentary (i.e did not participate in regular moderate or vigorous exercise or physical activity for 30 minutes two or more times a week for at least 6 months), inactive, age 20 to 60 years and full-time employee. The intervention consisted personal exercise plan booklet (PEPB), face-to face interaction, counselling session and telephone calls. In-person assessments occurred at baseline and 12 weeks after receiving intervention, which included wearing accelerometer for 7-day, IPAQ short form, as well as a battery of psychosocial questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the descriptive analysis, multiple regression and general linear model repeated-measure as appropriate. 22 volunteer participants (5 men and 17 women) with age mean (SD) = 44.73 (8.51). Accelerometer significantly increased their step-counts (SD) by 8434.40 (661.10) per day over the baseline. IPAQ showed that mean vigorous intensity (SD) = 1594.55 MET-min week(-1) (1306.06), moderate intensity (SD) = 1749.05 MET-min week(-1) (1760.35) and walking (SD) = 2146.98 MET-min week(-1)(2000.32) over the baseline. Multiple regression showed that there was a significant relationship self-efficacy and social support for increasing participating in physical activity after the intervention. Intervention designed to increase participation in physical activity a modestly effective. Intervention should emphasized tailored individual behavioral strategies. Our results suggest that in future studies, learning element should be implement to all ages and population. So they can plan their activities in changing physical activity patterns. This recommendation prompts as a strategy to promote physical activity of the many recommended. Further research is needed to determine factors associated with long-term, sustained, physical activity behaviour, sedentary and inactive adults. (c) 2014 The Authors. Published by Cognitive - crcs under responsibility of the Author(s).