Older Latino adults’ facilitators and barriers to reducing sedentary behavior following an individualized intervention

OBJECTIVES: To identify facilitators, barriers, and perceptions of older Latino adults regarding sedentary behaviors (SB) and physical activity (PA) SB and PA following a randomized controlled trial designed to replace SB with PA; we investigate how these factors differed between study groups. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive study. Semi-structured post-intervention interviews were conducted in Spanish with 38 Latino mid-life and older adults from Chicago in the Physical Activity Program to Disrupt Sedentary Time in Older Latinos study. After translation, two independent coders coded transcripts deductively and inductively to identify categories and themes. RESULTS: Compared to factors identified prior to the intervention, new barriers emerged around age, finances, and technology. Adapting exercise to one's needs, Fitbits, and PA feasibility were new facilitators. Two new categories characterized participants' underlying needs for engaging in PA (e.g. accessible facilities and education) and their knowledge and attitudes regarding SB and PA. Participants began to connect both SB and PA to cognitive function, discussed behavior changes related to the intervention, and often shared the intervention's information about both SB and PA with their community. CONCLUSION: Feasibility, accessibility, and awareness play an important role in reducing SB for mid-life and older Latino adults. This intervention shows promise for decreasing barriers in these areas and positively impacting knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards both PA and SB.