Culturally appropriate physical activity promotion strategy package among older Chinese adults in the UK: a feasibility randomised control trial protocol

by mdnmslw7 | 5 Nov 2025 | Healthy ageing, Physical activity, Publications | 0 comments

Background

Older Chinese adults in the UK are more likely to be physically inactive and face unique cultural and socioeconomic barriers to physical activity (PA) compared with the general population, yet they lack tailored interventions. Using findings from an evidence review and qualitative interviews, and guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel framework, we developed a culturally appropriate PA promotion package to enhance the capability, opportunity, and motivation of older Chinese adults in the UK to engage in PA.

This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of culturally appropriate PA promotion strategies among older Chinese adults in the UK.

Methods

This is a two-arm pragmatic feasibility RCT. Community-dwelling individuals who self-identify as Chinese, reside in the UK, are aged 60 years and older, and do not meet the World Health Organization (WHO) PA recommendations (i.e. < 150 min moderate PA or balance/strength exercise < 2 times per week) will be recruited. Participants will be randomised to receive either the culturally appropriate PA promotion strategy package or the WHO PA recommendation leaflet. Outcome data will be collected at baseline, 12 weeks, and 18 weeks post-randomisation. Primary outcomes will include feasibility measures (e.g. recruitment, compliance, adherence, and follow-up rates), intervention acceptability (qualitative interviews), and both subjective PA levels (PA Scale for the Elderly) and objective PA levels (Realalt 3DTriSport 3D Pedometer). Secondary outcomes will include the Brief COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation—Behaviour) questionnaire, physical function assessments (Short Physical Performance Battery, SPPB), and quality of life (Control, Autonomy, Self-realisation, and Pleasure-12,CASP-12). The feasibility of the study will be evaluated based on the pre-specified progression criteria.

Discussion

This is the first study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of conducting an RCT of a culturally appropriate PA promotion strategy package among older Chinese adults in the UK. The findings from this study will inform improvements in PA promotion strategies and guide the development of a full-scale RCT, with the ultimate goal of creating culturally appropriate, sustainable interventions to improve the health and well-being of older Chinese adults in the UK.

The study protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework on 19 November 2024 (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/XQHJS).

Conclusions

This feasibility RCT is a crucial step towards understanding how to effectively promote PA among older Chinese adults in the UK. By grounding the intervention in the lived experiences and cultural contexts of the target population, this study not only tests the feasibility of the proposed strategies but also sets the stage for future research that could lead to meaningful health improvements in this underserved group. The findings from this study will guide the development of a full-scale RCT, with the ultimate goal of creating culturally appropriate, sustainable interventions that improve the health and well-being of older Chinese adults in the UK.