Table 1 Intervention description using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TiDieR) checklist

1. Brief name

SMART-MOVE

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) Goal-setting coaching and accelerometer feedback to reduce older people’s sedentary time (MOVE)

2. Why

Excess time in sedentary behaviour is a prevalent health risk in the older population. Even amongst those who achieved the recommended requirement for physical activity, sedentary behaviour is considered detrimental and increasingly recognized as a health risk independent of physical activity. It is associated with adverse outcomes, such as falls, which is in turn a risk factor for fragility fractures. There is an urgent need to address this issue as the number of older people is expected to increase due to population ageing. Few studies have evaluated interventions to increase physical activity levels in older people who are at risk of falls. The coaching intervention is based on self-determination theory on modification of behaviour.

3. What—materials

Participants will receive:

• The ‘Choose Health: Be Active’ booklet developed by the Australian Government in collaboration with Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Department of Health and Aging to help older Australians achieve sufficient physical activity for good health as they age.

• An accelerometer to record sedentary behaviour for a week (at week 1, 12 and 24).

• A SMART goal-setting booklet will be given to participants in the intervention group.

• A pedometer to measure daily step counts.

4. What—procedures

Face-to-face coaching with goal setting will occur after accelerometer reading is available at the start of the study and then at week 6. Subsequently, telephone interviews will occur fortnightly on four occasions (week 2, 4, 8 and 10) to identify barriers and assist participants to achieve their physical activity goals.

5. Who provided

Two researchers with professional backgrounds in medicine and nursing will deliver the intervention.

6. How

The intervention will be tailored to suit the participant daily activities. SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) goals will be set. At the first face-to-face meeting, participants will set three goals to reduce sedentary behaviour. One goal will be incrementally introduced every 2 weeks so that by week 6, the participant will be working on three goals. At the second face-to-face meeting, the participant will set another three goals that will be added incrementally every fortnight.

Participants in the intervention arm will be provided with information about their duration of time spent upright (accelerometer) and total number of steps (pedometer) taken each day. Goals are set to increase their time spent upright and total number of steps taken. Participants will calculate the mean daily steps over 7 days and increase by 200 steps from the mean per week as a goal. They will also be encouraged to attend falls prevention classes if they have not participated in one in the preceding 12 months.

7. Where

The intervention will be delivered to community-dwelling older people who had at least one fall in the last 12 months or are at risk of one. It will be delivered at Adelaide G-TRAC Centre or The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

8. When and how much

The face-to-face assessment, goal setting and health-coaching will occur at the beginning of the intervention period and will last approximately 2 h. An accelerometer will be worn for one week before this face-to-face coaching. Phone coaching will occur for up to 15 min fortnightly when there is no face-to-face coaching. At week 6, a second face-to-face coaching will be conducted where goals will be reviewed and additional goals set.

9. Tailoring

The recommended physical activity plan will be tailored to individual needs based on participants’ goals, baseline levels, preferences and physical ability.