Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

"One Size Doesn't Fit All": Design Considerations for an Exercise Program to Improve Physical Function in Older Veterans with Serious Mental Illness.

Browne J, Mills WL, Lopez CT, Philip NS, Hall KS, Young AS, Guthrie KM, Wu WC. "One Size Doesn't Fit All": Design Considerations for an Exercise Program to Improve Physical Function in Older Veterans with Serious Mental Illness. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2025 Jan 29; 22(2):DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22020191.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

Older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) (i.e., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder) have compromised physical function that adversely affects their quality of life. Exercise is an effective intervention to improve function in older persons; however, older people with SMI experience barriers to exercise engagement. This study sought to obtain feedback on an exercise program in development for older people with SMI that comprised home-based exercise delivery, individualized exercise prescription, and motivational health coaching calls. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with older Veterans with SMI ( = 3) and clinical staff serving this population (directors: = 3; clinicians: = 15, k = 3) to elicit feedback on the perceived feasibility and acceptability of the preliminary program and recommendations for modifications to the program. Rapid analysis was used to summarize transcripts of audio-recorded interviews and focus groups. Results indicated a strong perceived feasibility and acceptability of the preliminary intervention because of how the individualized exercise prescription component (i.e., exercise plan) would be personalized to the Veteran's preferences and abilities. Clinical staff participants expressed concerns about how the lack of real-time supervision would negatively affect exercise completion. Participants recommended tailoring the home-based exercise delivery and motivational health coaching calls components to each Veteran's unique context.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.