Determinants of intention to undertake physical activity among community dwelling South Asians aged 60 and over.

Introduction: Regular physical activity (PA) reduces functional disability, improves mental health and reduces the risks of premature death from heart-disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes. However, PA levels decline with age with only 19% of people aged 65-74 and 6% of those aged 75+ achieving the recommended targets for PA in the UK. PA levels are even lower for ethnic minority groups. South Asian (SA) older people are less likely to exercise compared to their Caucasian peers. They also experience greater levels of heart-disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes and mental health problems, conditions that can be prevented or improved through taking regular PA. Evidence on effective interventions tailored to minority groups needs remains inadequate. Establishing the determinants of PA intention will help to develop culturally appropriate interventions to increase uptake and adherence of PA among SA older adults.Method: A cross-sectional survey, underpinned by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), with 305 of community-dwelling SA aged ≥60 to determine the prevalence and relative strength of attitudes related to PA-uptake. Multiple regression analyses will be undertaken to identify factors (e.g. gender/ethnicity/co-morbidity) independently have an effect on behaviour. Analysis of TPB will also be based on structural equation modelling (SEM), using Mplus 6.1.Results: We are currently undertaking the survey. This will be complete by the end of February 2013.Conclusions: Using theoretical frameworks, such as the TPB, are a useful starting point to look at behavioural change mechanisms which can be used to develop culturally sensitive PA interventions to increase PA levels.