Adherence to exercise programs for older people is influenced by program characteristics and personal factors: a systematic review.

QUESTION How has adherence been measured in recent prospective studies focusing on adherence to exercise programs among older people? What is the range of adherence rates? Which factors are associated with better adherence?

DESIGN Systematic review of prospective studies that had a primary aim of assessing adherence to exercise programs.

PARTICIPANTS Older people undertaking exercise programs.

INTERVENTION Exercise programs.

OUTCOME MEASURES Measures of adherence, adherence rates and factors associated with adherence.

RESULTS Nine eligible papers were identified. The most common adherence measures were the proportion of participants completing exercise programs (ie, did not cease participation, four studies, range 65 to 86%), proportion of available sessions attended (five studies, range 58 to 77%) and average number of home exercise sessions completed per week (two studies, range 1.5 to 3 times per week). Adherence rates were generally higher in supervised programs. The person-level factors associated with better adherence included: demographic factors (higher socioeconomic status, living alone); health status (fewer health conditions, better self-rated health, taking fewer medications); physical factors (better physical abilities); and psychological factors (better cognitive ability, fewer depressive symptoms).

CONCLUSION Older people's adherence to exercise programs is most commonly measured with dropout and attendance rates and is associated with a range of program and personal factors.