Table 1 Similarities and differences between LiFE and gLiFE conducted in the LiFE-is-LiFE trial [10]
| Â | LiFE | gLiFE |
|---|---|---|
Brief aim | Improve balance and lower limb strength, increase physical activity, decrease risk of falling, long-term sustainability of the LiFE activities through habit formation and self-empowerment | |
What: Materials | Participant’s manual, German version [22]; Contains descriptions and instructions of LiFE activities; principles of balance and strength training as well as physical activity enhancement; safety instructions when performing the activities; background on balance and strength exercise; assistance and support for changing habits and performing LiFE activities Trainer’s manual, German version; one for LiFE, one for gLiFE. Contains all information also included in the participant’s manual; additionally: outline of all 7 sessions and 2 phone calls, including text templates, material, preparations, and precautions Workbook; for all participants; used during intervention: Includes information on study procedures, personnel, contacts, and safety instructions; activity planning sheets for balance, strength, and physical activity; activity counter, notes pages; LiFE principles Aids and materials during intervention sessions: Laminated cards, showing LiFE principles and LiFE activities to be used as visual aids during intervention sessions; balls, blankets, sponge rubber, boxes, clipboards, pens, bags, name tags, flipcharts | |
What: Procedures | 7 home visits by one qualified trainer; 2 phone calls 4 and 10 weeks after last session | 7 group sessions (n = 8–12 participants) led by one main and one co-trainer, 2 phone calls 4 and 10 weeks after last session |
Who provided | Trainers are sport scientists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists or psychologists. All trainers received a two-day training course on the program background, aims, and components prior to the project start. | |
How | One-to-one situation in the participant’s home | Group setting with 8–12 participants and two trainers |
Where | Two study sites: Heidelberg and Stuttgart (Germany) | |
When and how much | 7 sessions within 11 weeks: week 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. Two phone calls 4 and 10 weeks after the last session (i.e. week 15 and 21). Duration of each session: 1–1.5 h | See LiFE Duration of each session: 2–2.5 h |
Setting | Intensity and dose are determined by the individuals’ activity plans, adherence, and performance level of each activity | |
Behavior change | Behavior change theories based on LiFE trainer’s manual and participant’s manual [21]. | Modification of the original behavior change concept using established theories on health behavior, such as the Health Action Process Approach [23, 24] and the Self-Determination Theory [25]. Intervention contents of gLiFE were mapped using the Behavior Change Technique (BCT) Taxonomy v1 [26]. |