Walk with me study: is a peer-led walking programme to increase physical activity in inactive older adults effective?

INTERVENTION: The ‘Walk With Me’ intervention is a peer led 12‐week walking programme in community dwelling older adults. Eligible participants will be randomised on a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group (peer‐led walking programme) or control condition. An independent statistician from the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit (NICTU) will generate the randomisation sequence using NQuery Advisor (v7) and randomly permuted blocks of mixed size. Individuals allocated to the (waitlist) control group will be contacted by the peer mentor manager regularly during the trial period (12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months post baseline data collection, for follow‐up assessments). After the final data collection point, they will be given the opportunity to discuss with a member of the research team the availability of local physical activity opportunities (e.g., local walking groups). In line with approaches used in our pilot study and other interventions in older adults, they will also be offered a pedometer and physical activity diary during this meeting. Eligible individuals allocated to the intervention group will have regular contact with a peer mentor and be encouraged to increase their time spent in moderate intensity physical activity. 35 peer mentors will be recruited. They will be paired with participants of the same se Xand from a similar community. During the trial, peer mentors will be managed by a peer mentor manager (public health improvement coordinator (PHIC)) for training/advice/support. They will be contacted by the PHIC at least once per fortnight, to maintain a regular line of contact and identify any problems with the programme delivery or participant contact and engagement. The intervention will begin with a first face‐to‐face meeting between the peer mentor and p CONDITION: Physical activity in older persons ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: Time spent in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity is measured using a waist‐worn Actigraph accelerometer at baseline, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Quality of life measured using SF‐12 at baseline, 12 weeks and 12 months.; 2. Health‐related quality of life measured using EQ5D‐5L at baseline, 12 weeks and 12 months.; 3. Mental wellbeing measured using Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Well‐Being Scale at baseline, 12 weeks and 12 months.; 4. Resting blood pressure measured using a digital sphygmomanometer at baseline, 12 weeks and 12 months.; 5. Body mass inde Xand waist circumference measured at baseline, 12 weeks and 12 months.; 6. Social engagement measured with the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale measured at baseline, 12 weeks 12 months.; 7. Physical functioning measures using short physical performance battery test at baseline, 12 weeks 12 months.; 8. Use of self‐regulation techniques measured using physical activity self‐regulation scale at baseline, 12 weeks 12 months.; 9. Physical activity and social activity self‐efficacy measured using physical activity and social activity self‐efficacy scales at baseline, 12 weeks 12 months.; 10. Physical activity and social activity outcome expectancy measured using physical activity and social activity outcome expectancy scales at baseline, 12 weeks 12 months.; 11. Cost‐effectiveness measured using health service use questionnaire at baseline, 12 weeks 12 months. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Living in socio‐economically disadvantaged community, defined as the most disadvantaged quartile of electoral wards in NI according to the NIMDM 2. Able to communicate in English and live independently in the community (i.e. at home). 3. For individuals not in employment at the outset, they will be included as long as they are not planning on returning to work over the following 12 months 4. Males or females aged 60 years or over 5. Score of 24 or higher on the Mini‐Mental State Exam 6. Score of <3 on the PRISMA‐7 frailty questionnaire 7. Not currently physically active (assessed using the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire) 8. No recent medical history in the last si Xmonths that would limit the ability to participate in a walking programme 9. Able to communicate in English