[Experience in the use of videos for the promotion of physical exercise at home in online mode in older adults in Chile during the COVID-19 pandemic].

OBJECTIVE

Describe the usability, actionability and understanding of videos to promote exercise at home online during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing the characteristics of the population, their satisfaction, adherence and barriers to physical exercise.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A descriptive, non-experimental and cross-sectional observational design study, with a quantitative approach. Home-based videos of physical exercise and education about pain were created for people over 60 years old and distributed in the Metropolitan Region (Chile) during the months of October to December 2020. Participants had to use these videos independently at home during 4 weeks. A sample who received these videos were then voluntarily surveyed.

RESULTS

Thirty-four participants rated the videos as understandable and actionable. Usability was lower in people who perceived a lower level of technological management. Average adherence was 2 days a week for 2.5 weeks. The main perceived barrier was the lack of will, which showed a greater tendency in people who performed physical exercise in a group way before the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

The videos were well evaluated by the elderly population, however the technological gap can be a limitation to favor an easy and simple use. Among the strategies, interventions that favor social interaction should be considered to promote interpersonal motivation, especially in people who prefer group modalities of exercise.