Background

Older Chinese adults in the UK face unique needs when engaging in physical activity, yet culturally appropriate strategies to promote physical activity remain limited. The objective is to develop culturally appropriate physical activity promotion strategies for older Chinese adults living in the UK.

Methods

The intervention development comprised two stages: design and optimisation. It was informed by previous research findings and input from public and community involvement and engagement. Stage 1 combined the person-based approach (PBA), which involved developing guiding principles, an intervention planning table and a logic model, with seven steps of the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to identify intervention functions, behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and delivery modes to enhance older Chinese adults’ capability, opportunity and motivation for physical activity. Stage 2 used think-aloud interviews with 10 older Chinese adults to optimise the intervention.

Results

Six intervention functions (education, persuasion, incentivisation, training, modelling and enablement), 27 behaviour change techniques and multiple delivery modes were identified in stage 1. In stage 2, based on think-aloud interviews with 10 participants, three prototypes were retained in their original form, one new element was added and three were removed. The remaining components were retained with either minor or major modifications. The final strategies included culturally tailored physical activity booklets, monthly workshops and social media support groups.

Conclusions

By integrating evidence, theory and stakeholder perspectives, and by combining the person-based approach with the behaviour change wheel, this study developed the first culturally appropriate physical activity promotion strategies for older Chinese adults in the UK. Further research is needed to evaluate their feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness.

Full Publication

Developing culturally appropriate physical activity promotion strategies for older Chinese adults in the UK: an evidence-based, theory-based and person-based intervention development study 

Date

September 2026