Individual counselling intervention in increasing physical activity a randomized controlled trial

Individual Counselling Intervention in Increasing Physical Activity

A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Adile Tümer *, Süheyla Altuğ Özsoy **

* Medical School Of Fethiye

** School of Nursing, Department Community Health Nursing İzmir.

INTRODUCTION: Physical inactivity is a major public health problem. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of individualized counselling intervention based on the stage of change in increasing physical activity.

MATERIAL-METHOD: The study was conducted at from September 2005 to April total of 84 volunteers (42 intervention and 42 control group)  formed the sample of this study. Socio-demographic Questions and “A Diagnostic Form of Stage of Physical Activity Behaviour Change” were used to collect data in this study and the data were collected through six observations (September, November, December 2005; February, April 2006, April 2007). A form of individualized counselling based on the stage of change was used in Individualized Counselling Intervention carried out five times (October, November, December 2005; February, April 2006).

RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was not found between the intervention and the control groups in terms of the participants’ descriptive qualities and it was found that both groups were homogeneous (p>0.05). From initial to final observation, % 68.29 of participants in intervention group achieved a change through progress in activity behaviour change stages (p>0.001). %19.51 of participants in control group achieved a change through progress in the stages of change (p>0.01). A statistically significant difference was determined between the intervention and the control group in the final observation of the participants’ stages of physical activity behaviour change.

CONCLUSION: It was concluded that individualized counselling intervention based on the stage of change was effective and useful to increase the physical activity among adults.

Key Words: Physical activity, Stage of change, Individualized Counselling.