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More Than Just Exercise: Older Adults' Experience of the Peer-Led Group-Based FallFitness Program
Mälardalen University, School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Health and Welfare. Dalarna Univ, Sch Hlth & Welf, Dept Med, Falun, Sweden; Uppsala Univ, Ctr Clin Res Sormland, Eskilstuna, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7418-6088
Mälardalen University, School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Health and Welfare.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2918-3619
Mälardalen University, School of Health, Care and Social Welfare.
Uppsala Univ, Ctr Clin Res Sormland, Eskilstuna, Sweden; Linköping Univ, Dept Hlth Med & Caring Sci, Linköping, Sweden.
2025 (English)In: Clinical Interventions in Aging, ISSN 1176-9092, E-ISSN 1178-1998, Vol. 20, p. 931-939Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Falls threaten the health and well-being of older adults. While studies have presented effective fall prevention exercises, determining how to deliver these interventions in a way that ensures engagement and long-term sustainability is challenging. Additionally, understanding how older adults perceive and are motivated to participate in such programs is critical for broad public health promotion. This study aimed to explore older adults' experiences and perceptions regarding participation in a newly developed 8-week peer-led group-based exercise program, FallFitness. Methods: Participants were recruited from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) exploring a newly developed 8-week peer-led group-based exercise program. A total of 2 focus groups were conducted post intervention, comprising ten participants (8 women and 2 men) from the exercise arm of the RCT. Inductive and conventional qualitative content analysis was performed. Results: From the interviews, 5 main categories and 6 subcategories capturing the study aim are presented. Main categories included: a) social interaction and community, more than just exercise, b) increased motivational drive and self-efficacy, c) group exercise as fun, safe, and inclusive activity, d) enhanced collaboration between healthcare providers and retirement organizations for fall prevention, and e) professional peer-led trainers. Conclusion: Peer-led, well-designed group-based exercise programs can holistically support physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Programs that include enjoyable, multicomponent elements, both physically and mentally stimulating, can enhance participants' motivation and adherence. Additionally, the group setting is thought to promote meaningful social interaction, which is widely recognized as important for overall well-being. From a public health perspective, collaborative models for fall prevention involving older adults as a "golden resource" should be established. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06265480 (2024-02-08).

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Informa UK Limited , 2025. Vol. 20, p. 931-939
Keywords [en]
falls, fall prevention, group-based, self-efficacy
National Category
Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-72857DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S527142ISI: 001523537900001PubMedID: 40621091Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105010495728OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-72857DiVA, id: diva2:1984562
Available from: 2025-07-16 Created: 2025-07-16 Last updated: 2026-04-30Bibliographically approved

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Arkkukangas, MarinaStrömqvist Bååthe, Karin

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