Author(s): SCHWARTZ, B., SHIVGULAM, ME., THEO, O., O'BRIEN, MW., Institution: DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 1752

INTRODUCTION:
Higher social vulnerability is associated with all-cause mortality and higher frailty in older adults and can be improved through group based physical activity. Combined health-education and exercise programs are well established to improve physical activity and social support. However, the direct impact of such interventions on social vulnerability is unknown. Walk with a Future Doc (WWAFD) is a free, student-led community-based group exercise and education program. This study tested the hypothesis that the WWAFD program will decrease social vulnerability in adults.
METHODS:
Thirty-three adults (age: 67.6±12 years, 20 females, n=16≥65 years) participated in a 12-week WWAFD program consisting of a 10-min educational talk and 50 min of self-paced walking once/week. Participants completed a 74-item social vulnerability index (SVI) at baseline and follow-up. The SVI was subdivided into 9 categories: socio-demographic (1 item), home ownership (1 item), education (1 item), social networks (6 items), social support availability (20 items), and social participation (13 items), online social networking (10 items), built environment (11 items), and wealth (11 items) with higher scores indicative of higher social vulnerability. The relation between age, sex, number of chronic conditions, with the change in SVI were determined.
RESULTS:
Following the 12-week program, there was a reduction in total SVI from baseline to follow-up (0.23±0.07 [range: 0.09–0.46] to 0.21±0.09 [range: 0.00–0.51], p=0.01, d=0.08). This was driven by a change in “social participation” from baseline to follow-up (0.35±0.15 [range: 0.13–0.71] to 0.28±0.12 [range: 0.10–0 .54]; p<0.001, d=0.02). All other changes within SVI sub-categories were not statistically different (all p≥0.32). Neither age, sex, nor number of chronic conditions (1.2±1.5 conditions [range: 0-7]) were associated with the change in SVI nor the change in social participation (all, p≥0.16).
CONCLUSION:
Participation in a 12 week community-based walking and education program was associated with an improvement in social participation scores that resulted in a reduction in overall social vulnerability.