Feasibility Study Of Frailty Prevention Exercises With Influence Of Living Conditions

PURPOSE: As society grows older, the prevalence of frailty among the elderly is on the rise. While habitual exercise has been identified as an effective method to prevent and mitigate physical frailty, with recommendations to start as early as middle age, many in this age group do not engage in regular exercise. The aim of this study is to evaluate the appeal and self-efficacy of our newly developed exercise program, designed to prevent frailty based on behavioral science principles. Additionally, the study seeks to explore how this program correlates with the participants' living conditions. METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to residents in community dwellings. A total of 82 middle-aged and older adults (22 males, 55.7 ± 9.3 years old and 60 females, 59.7 ± 10.8 years old), living in the downtown area were invited to fill out questionnaires. This survey inquired about their living conditions and their level of interest and self-efficacy concerning video exercise programs aimed at preventing frailty, designed based on a behavioral science model. To assess the correlation between their interest in, and the self-efficacy of, the exercise program with their living conditions, a χ2 (chi-square) test was utilized. RESULTS: The exercise program we developed to prevent frailty garnered considerable interest, scoring an average of 4.21 ± 0.84 out of 5. However, the participants’ confidence in their ability to implement the program individually was slightly lower, with an average score of 3.45 ± 1.06 out of 5. Notably, individuals with higher life satisfaction demonstrated a significantly increased likelihood (odds ratio of 2.706; 95%CI: 1.103-6.635, P = 0.045) of having greater self-efficacy in executing the exercise program. Moreover, a stronger economic status was significantly linked to higher life satisfaction (odds ratio: 10.667; 95%CI: 2.794-40.727, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While our frailty prevention exercise program was rated positively in terms of ease of implementation, self-efficacy in individual application appears to be influenced by life satisfaction levels. This suggests that an individual's perception of their economic status may impact their confidence in implementing the exercise program independently.