Key result
Retention of older veterans with serious mental illness in a clinical exercise program was 33% at 6 and 12 months, with better baseline quality of life and endurance predicting retention.
Why the study?
Older adults with serious mental illness have compromised physical function that could be improved with exercise, but retention in exercise programs is a challenge.
Cohort (n=150)
Yes
Retention of older veterans with serious mental illness in a clinical exercise program was low (33%), with better baseline health-related quality of life and endurance predicting successful retention.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Low retention cautions broad rollout of exercise programs for older veterans with SMI; leaves open optimal adherence strategies for prospective trials.
Older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) have compromised physical function that could be improved with exercise; however, retention in exercise programs is a challenge. This study was a retrospective analysis of retention for the 150 older veterans with SMI that enrolled in Gerofit, a clinical exercise program offered in the Veterans Health Administration. Chi-square and t -tests were conducted to evaluate baseline differences between those that were and were not retained at six and 12 months. Retention was 33% and better health-related quality of life and endurance were related to retention. Future work is needed to improve exercise program retention in this population.
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Browne et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Serious mental illness (n=150). Gerofit clinical exercise program was evaluated on Retention at 6 and 12 months. Retention of older veterans with serious mental illness in a clinical exercise program was 33% at 6 and 12 months, with better baseline quality of life and endurance predicting retention.
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