Café Move: A Novel Program for Prevention of Age-Related Physical Frailty

University Of Montana, Missoula MT

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Summary RPL Kittelson, Café Move: A Novel Program for Prevention of Age-Related Physical Frailty Age-related physical frailty (or: reduced physical reserve due to aging) is associated with myriad negative health consequences, including falls, hospitalizations, loss of independence, social isolation, and death. Unfortunately, healthcare for physical frailty is almost entirely reactionary, a response to already-existing deficits (e.g., pronounced weakness, extremely slow mobility, history of previous falls). The measures used in healthcare settings to assess physical function are often unresponsive in healthy populations (i.e., due to ceiling effects), and only rarely do people access these measures in a preventive fashion. In most cases, physical function is only assessed when the best opportunity for prevention has already passed. The primary goal of this study is to acquire preliminary data to support a future R01-level investigation examining the efficacy of a novel approach to preventing age-related physical frailty, which we have developed in our pilot work: Café Move. Café Move uses simple yet robust assessments of strength, mobility and balance to enable people to quickly and easily gain insight to their physical function, relative to normative data (accounting for age, height, etc.). Based on the Self-Determination Theory of intrinsic motivation, Café Move is designed to be performed outside of formal healthcare settings (i.e., community-based settings or even in a person’s home), thus promoting autonomy and reducing barriers to access. In this study, we plan to make Café Move available in both healthcare and community-based settings to examine rates of engagement across settings. Café Move offers three modalities: “dine-in,” “kiosk,” and “delivery.” The “dine-in” option operates like a community health fair. Participant are guided through assessments by a skilled assessor at a particular date/time. The “kiosk” option is analogous to a blood pressure check station at the local drug store; trained personnel are nearby, but people can interact with the platform at their convenience (i.e., not a scheduled date/time). Finally, the “delivery” option allows people to order the (inexpensive) assessment supplies and perform measurements in their own home. We will conduct a double-baseline cohort study intended to yield the data necessary to calculate within- and between-site variance in the outcome measures of interest (e.g., health behaviors, rates of engagement with prevention strategies), which will inform the design of a future multi-site clinical trial.