A survey of the effect of education based on planning behavior theory on increasing physical activity in elderly women

Background and Aim: One of the problems of old age in today's world is sedentary lifestyle and inactivity. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of an educational program based on the theory of planned behavior with the aim of increasing the physical activity of elderly women in Sanandaj. Materials and methods: This interventional-experimental study was performed on elderly women over 60 years of age in Sanandaj in 2022. Participants were divided into two intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups by using the systematic random method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire including two sections of demographic information and constructs of the theory of planned behavior and also the International Questionnaire of Physical Activity (IPAQ). The training method in the intervention group was face-to-face training and also questions and answers that were held during 4 sessions of 45 minutes. Results: The mean age of participants in the intervention group was 70.6 ±7. 0 and in the control group was 73.9 ± 8.2 years. Comparing the mean scores of attitude structures, abstract norms, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention in intervention and control groups after educational intervention showed a statistically significant difference (p=.0001). Also, the physical activity of elderly in the intervention group increased significantly after the educational intervention (p=0.0001). Conclusion: The training program based on the theory of planned behavior was effective on all dimensions of control, attitude, behavioral intention, mental norm and awareness and was effective in increasing physical activity in elderly women.