Use of Tele-Exercise for Translating an Evidence-Based Fall-Prevention Program for Older Adults in West Virginia

West Virginia (WV) has a critical need for resources to reach more of its older adults with fall-prevention programming. The Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® (TJQMBB) program is an evidence-based, CDC-approved, community-delivered, physical activity fall-prevention intervention for older adults. The program is efficacious and effective in reducing falls in older adults, and has been translated into clinical and community settings. Programs delivered in one setting; however, may not automatically translate to others. We recently completed a CDC-funded study which successfully translated a 16-week TJQMBB intervention into 20 faith-based organizations in 7 rural WV counties. In the maintenance phase of the study (i.e., post intervention), only 38% of classes continued despite the fact that 87% of participants expressed a desire to continue. The rate limiting factor for continuing classes in these rural areas was lack of instructors. Thus, there is a vital need to further translate TJQMBB into practice using alternative delivery channels to increase the reach and maintenance of the program, especially in rural areas where instructors are less available.

Using telehealth technology to deliver exercise classes (i.e. tele-exercise) is one alternative to the traditional, face-to-face, group exercise classes where the instructor and participants are in the same room. We propose delivering tele-TJQMBB to older adults using a computer, television, and the internet. This delivery mode will allow us to recruit instructors from any location (e.g., urban areas), and with possibly more experience, yet still reach older adults in communities without instructors.

The purpose of this translational study is to work with our injury control, technology, and wellness partners to: 1) implement a 16-week intervention of the tele-TJQMBB classes in 120 older adults at 12 community sites in 4 WV counties; 2) describe functional, self-reported, and fall/injury outcomes; and 3) evaluate the translation of tele-TJQMBB with respect to its Reach into the target population (number of participants), Effectiveness (participant outcomes), Adoption (number of sites, instructors, classes), Implementation (fidelity ratings), and Maintenance (satisfaction, continued participation) using the Re-aim Framework. Demonstrating that tele-TJQMBB is effective would provide an additional delivery channel for the program, help overcome the barrier of identifying instructors in rural areas, and in the future, allow for the number of classes to be expanded to reach more older adults, provide more community-based programs in which to refer older adults to, and enhance overall maintenance of the program. To our knowledge, this is the first study to translate an evidence-based, group, fall-prevention exercise program using an alternative delivery method in a priority population, and thus, may serve as a model for reaching other underserved older adults.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults age 55 and older
• Community-dwelling
• Able to attend 2, 1-hour Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance classes a week for 16 weeks
• Able to attend 2 testing sessions for data collection (Testing sessions will be scheduled the week before classes begin and the week after the classes end)
• Able to walk at least 2 city blocks with or without an assistive device

Exclusion criteria

• Lack reliable transportation
• Unable to speak English