The proposed project will develop a home-based, user-friendly Tai Chi educational/instructional media program to address a range of physical mobility problems for healthy, and transitioning-to-frail, older adults 60 years of age and older. The instructional media program will be adapted from the 8-Form Easy Tai Chi, a modification of the popular Yang Style 24-Form Tai Chi, which has been scientifically evaluated in prior randomized controlled trials. The overall investigation will be conducted in two phases. The Phase 1 program will be focused on developing a prototype Tai Chi program in VHS format, which will be tested on 50 older adults for evaluation. Outcomes will be evaluated using a within-group design comparing pre - post assessments of attitudes, perceived barriers, movement efficacy, exercise intention, and consumer satisfaction measures. Based on the evaluation of the Phase 1 prototype, the goals of Phase 2 will be to develop a multifaceted and versatile version of the Tai Chi program in interactive DVD format, which will include expanded content, self-monitoring, and technical features to enhance ease of use, and be tailored for older populations. The interactive program will be subjected to a rigorous, scientific evaluation through a randomized controlled trial. The final product will be marketed to older adults through senior centers, residential housing units, retirement centers, educational media distributors, health organizations, and the World Wide Web.
Thesaurus Terms: alternative medicine, educational resource design /development, exercise, programmed instruction, videotape /videodisc clinical research, focus group, human old age (65+), human subject
