Describing the “Championing Physical Activity for people affected by dementia” education intervention

Purpose The benefits of physical activity for people with dementia are well researched; however, this population experiences high levels of physical inactivity. An evidence-based online education intervention was developed to address professional knowledge and confidence to facilitate and deliver physical activity opportunities for people with dementia and their unpaid carers. This paper aims to systematically describe the “Championing Physical Activity for people affected by dementia” (CPA) intervention. Design/methodology/approach The Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist (TIDieR) was used as a best practice guideline for intervention description by reporting key intervention components to support replication and future research. Findings TIDieR provided a standardised and systematic way to describe CPA. Key components of CPA were a structured approach to online learning, live sessions with a lecturer in dementia studies and asynchronous resources/activities to scaffold learning. Content included key concepts (e.g. citizenship and leisure), implementation determinants (e.g. barriers and facilitators) and processes/strategies (e.g. planning and adapting) to design and deliver physical activity sessions with people affected by dementia. Delivered online over a six-week period, CPA was acceptable for diverse practitioners that may engage people in physical activity. Originality/value This study provides a full description of the CPA intervention, which may be a feasible and effective way to address the knowledge gap in dementia education around physical activity.