What helps older people persevere with yoga classes? A realist process evaluation of a COVID-19-affected yoga program for fall prevention

Grunseit, A

What helps older people persevere with yoga classes? A realist process evaluation of a COVID-19-affected yoga program for fall prevention

Grunseit, A

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Publisher:: BioMed Central
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC Public Health, 2022, 22, (1), pp. 1-16
Issue Date:: 2022

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Grunseit, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0783-4596
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-11T03:05:54Z
dc.date.available	2022-02-21
dc.date.available	2022-10-11T03:05:54Z
dc.date.issued	2022
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Public Health, 2022, 22, (1), pp. 1-16
dc.identifier.issn	1471-2458
dc.identifier.issn	1472-698X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162460
dc.description.abstract	Background Falls among older people are a major global health concern. This process evaluation investigates the experience of participants aged 60+ in a yoga program aimed at preventing falls which transitioned from studio-based classes to online classes in response to COVID-19 restrictions. We sought to understand how the Successful AGEing (SAGE) yoga program functioned in both settings and as a hybrid program, and to explain why it worked well for most participants. Methods Realist process evaluation was used to explore the factors that facilitated a successful transition for most participants, and to consider why it did not work for a minority. This approach develops program theories that describe which mechanisms an intervention is (or is not) activating, and how this is mediated by context to generate process outcomes. Data included interviews with participants (n = 21) and yoga instructors (n = 3), self-report feedback forms (n = 46), observation of classes and routine process measures. Results Factors that facilitated a successful transition for most participants included the quality of yoga instruction, the program format and inherent characteristics of yoga. Gains in transitioning online included continuity and greater convenience. Losses included perceived reduction in the effectiveness of yoga instruction. There were greater challenges for people struggling with pain and in disadvantageous home environments. We identified six program theories configured around 16 mechanisms: 1. It’s worth the effort and 2. In expert hands (these had the same mechanisms: value expectancy, therapeutic alliance and achievement/mastery), 3. A communal experience (these mechanisms were shared experience, social connection, social comparison and peer checking), 4. Putting yoga within reach (accessibility, convenience, gratitude), 5. Building yoga habits (purposeful structure, momentum, accountability and continuity), and 6. Yoga’s special properties (embodiment and mindfulness). Conclusions This study showed that online delivery of a yoga program for people aged 60+ retained much of the value of a face-to-face program for the majority of participants, and increased the value for some. The structured, communal nature of an organised group program delivered by a skilled instructor, together with yoga’s intrinsic focus on mindfulness, facilitated continued engagement and perceived health benefits, despite the change in delivery mode.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	BioMed Central
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s12889-022-12818-5
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Public Health
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Aged
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Meditation
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Yoga
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Meditation
dc.subject.mesh	Yoga
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.title	What helps older people persevere with yoga classes? A realist process evaluation of a COVID-19-affected yoga program for fall prevention
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	22
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-10-11T03:05:51Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	22
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Background Falls among older people are a major global health concern. This process evaluation investigates the experience of participants aged 60+ in a yoga program aimed at preventing falls which transitioned from studio-based classes to online classes in response to COVID-19 restrictions. We sought to understand how the Successful AGEing (SAGE) yoga program functioned in both settings and as a hybrid program, and to explain why it worked well for most participants. Methods Realist process evaluation was used to explore the factors that facilitated a successful transition for most participants, and to consider why it did not work for a minority. This approach develops program theories that describe which mechanisms an intervention is (or is not) activating, and how this is mediated by context to generate process outcomes. Data included interviews with participants (n = 21) and yoga instructors (n = 3), self-report feedback forms (n = 46), observation of classes and routine process measures. Results Factors that facilitated a successful transition for most participants included the quality of yoga instruction, the program format and inherent characteristics of yoga. Gains in transitioning online included continuity and greater convenience. Losses included perceived reduction in the effectiveness of yoga instruction. There were greater challenges for people struggling with pain and in disadvantageous home environments. We identified six program theories configured around 16 mechanisms: 1. It’s worth the effort and 2. In expert hands (these had the same mechanisms: value expectancy, therapeutic alliance and achievement/mastery), 3. A communal experience (these mechanisms were shared experience, social connection, social comparison and peer checking), 4. Putting yoga within reach (accessibility, convenience, gratitude), 5. Building yoga habits (purposeful structure, momentum, accountability and continuity), and 6. Yoga’s special properties (embodiment and mindfulness). Conclusions This study showed that online delivery of a yoga program for people aged 60+ retained much of the value of a face-to-face program for the majority of participants, and increased the value for some. The structured, communal nature of an organised group program delivered by a skilled instructor, together with yoga’s intrinsic focus on mindfulness, facilitated continued engagement and perceived health benefits, despite the change in delivery mode.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162460