Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026
A Training Program Using an Agility Ladder for Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Published on: March 7, 2020
Determining the reach of a home-based physical activity program for older adults within the context of a randomized
Samantha M Harden1, Jason T Fanning2, Robert W Motl2
1Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61801, USA and Department of Family and Community Medicine, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA harden.samantha@vt.edu.
Unlabelled:
Determining the reach of physical activity (PA) programs is challenging due to inconsistent reporting across studies. The purpose of this study was to document multiple indicators of program reach for a 6-month, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)-delivered home-based PA program. Radio, newspaper and direct mailing advertisements were tracked to determine costs as well as the number and representativeness of older adults exposed and responding to recruitment. It was estimated that all older adults in the recruitment area (n = 105 515) may have been exposed to at least one of the recruitment strategies--563 responded and 383 were screened as eligible. Of those that enrolled (n = 307), the DVD reached between 81% and 97% of the participants over each month within the 6 month period. Newspaper advertisements were most effective (n = 222) at a cost of $78 per participant enrolled.
Conclusion:
Using multiple indicators of reach supports the accurate calculation and generalizability of recruiting older adults into PA programs.
