Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 17, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 17, 2024 - Aug 26, 2024
Date Accepted: Oct 10, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Mitochondrial Fitness Science Communication for Aging Adults: A Prospective Formative Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
A key driver that leads to age-associated decline and chronic disease is mitochondrial dysfunction. Our prior work revealed strong community interest in the concept of mitochondrial fitness that led to development of a video based science communication intervention to prompt behavior change in adults aged 50+.
Objective:
To conduct formative and summative evaluations of MitoFit, an instructional, biologically based communication intervention aimed at improving physical activity (PA) in adults, aged 50+.
Methods:
Design: Prospective observational 2-phased pilot study. Procedures: Phase 1 formative evaluation- Community-dwelling older adults (N=101), rated the acceptability, appropriateness and helpfulness of our MitoFit video series, titled, “How to Slow Down Aging Through Mitochondrial Fitness.” (4 out of five on a Likert-scale survey). Phase II summative evaluation- A subgroup of phase I participants (N=19) participated in a 1-month MitoFit intervention prototype to evaluate intervention and data collection feasibility (70% completion). Settings: Community venues (neighborhood, seniors centers, clinical research lab). Data Collection: Surveys and focus groups. Data analyses: Frequency distributions, Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test
Results:
Phase I: Participants (mean age: 67.8 [SD 8.9]; 75% female) rated the MitoFit videos as acceptable (agree: 97%-100%), appropriate (agree: 100%) and helpful (agree: 95%-100%) to support adaptation and continued work on our novel approach. Phase II: Participants (mean age: 71.4 [SD 7.9]; 72% female) demonstrated MitoFit competencies (obtaining pulse, calculating maximum and zone 2 heart rate, demonstration of exercises). At one-month post-instruction, 13 participants (68.4%) had completed a self-initiated daily walking/exercise plan and submitted a daily activity log. Feasibility scores ranged from 89.4% to 94.7%. Fifteen participants (78.9%) stated an intention to continue the MitoFit intervention.
Conclusions:
MitoFit was enthusiastically embraced, and is a cost-effective, scalable, and efficacious intervention to advance with community-dwelling older adults. Clinical Trial: NA
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