Adherence Of Older Veterans With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder To A 6-month Supervised Exercise Intervention

PURPOSE: Warrior Wellness is a randomized, controlled, intervention designed to assess the impacts of exercise, compared to an attention control, on physical and psychological welling. The primary aim of the current study is to analyze preliminary attendance data, while assessing dropout rates and determinants of nonadherence. The secondary aim is to explore attendance and adherence of male Veterans compared to female Veterans. METHODS: Veterans at least 65 years old presenting no contraindications to exercise were randomized into the Exercise Group or the Healthy Aging Group. Both groups were asked to complete baseline as well as post-treatment assessments including physical and functional testing. Those enrolled in exercise were asked to attend supervised workouts, 3 days a week, for 6 months. Exercise sessions were offered both in-person and over a virtual platform. Attendance was noted during each session. RESULTS: : A total of 26 participants (20 men, 6 women) attended at least one exercise session and were included in subsequent analyses. There were 6 total dropouts (4 men, 2 women). Mean overall attendance was 63.2%, with a median of 67.9% and range of 7.69-100%. Men and women attended an average of 64.6% and 58.6% of exercise sessions, respectively. There were no significant correlations between attendance and number of chair stands completed at baseline (p = 0.546), nor 6 Minute-Walk Test distance at baseline (p = 0.815). CONCLUSIONS: Overall attendance compared to the pilot study completed in 2015 was significantly less, with the pilot study boasting an 89% attendance rate. There are several potential causes for decreased attendance, including the Coronavirus pandemic occurring during the first 2 years of the study, along with the increased duration of participation from the pilot from 12 weeks to 6 months. It may also be noted that men had lesser dropout rates (20%), compared to women (33%), while also having higher overall attendance rates. RX003120; Hall, PI