Background:
Lifestyle factors playing a role in the development of late-life disability may be modifiable. There is a need for robust evidence about the potential for prevention of disability through behaviour change interventions.
Methods:
This feasibility study involves the development, implementation and initial testing of a behaviour change intervention in a naturalistic setting. A small-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) will investigate the implementation of a goal-setting intervention aimed at promoting behaviour change in the domains of physical and cognitive activity in the context of a community resource centre for over 50s. Healthy older participants attending the centre (n = 75) will be randomised to one of three conditions: control (an interview involving a general discussion about the centre); goal-setting (an interview involving identification of up to 5 personal goals in the domains of physical activity, cognitive activity, diet and health, and social engagement); or goal-setting with mentoring (the goal-setting interview followed by bi-monthly telephone mentoring). All participants will be reassessed after 12 months. Primary outcomes are levels of physical and cognitive activity. Secondary outcomes address psychosocial (self-efficacy, mood, quality of life), cognitive (memory and executive function), and physical fitness (functional and metabolic) domains. Cost-effectiveness will also be examined.DiscussionThis study will provide information about the feasibility of a community-based lifestyle intervention model for over 50s and of the implementation of a goal-setting intervention for behaviour change, together with initial evidence about the short-term effects of goal-setting on behaviour.