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Clinical Trial
. 2010 Aug;58(8):1496-503.
doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02980.x. Epub 2010 Jul 19.

Activating seniors to improve chronic disease care: results from a pilot intervention study

Dominick L Frosch  1 , David Rincon, Socorro Ochoa, Carol M Mangione
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Activating seniors to improve chronic disease care: results from a pilot intervention study

Dominick L Frosch et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of an activation intervention delivered in community senior centers to improve health outcomes for chronic diseases that disproportionately affect older adults.

Design: Two-group quasi-experimental study.

Setting: Two Los Angeles community senior centers.

Participants: One hundred sixteen senior participants.

Intervention: Participants were invited to attend group screenings of video programs intended to inform about and motivate self-management of chronic conditions common in seniors. Moderated discussions reinforcing active patient participation in chronic disease management followed screenings. Screenings were scheduled over the course of 12 weeks.

Measurements: One center was assigned by coin toss to an encouragement condition in which participants received a $50 gift card if they attended at least three group screenings. Participants in the nonencouraged center received no incentive for attendance. Validated study measures for patient activation, physical activity, and health-related quality of life were completed at baseline and 12 weeks and 6 months after enrollment.

Results: Participants attending the encouraged senior center were more likely to attend three or more group screenings (77.8% vs 47.2%, P=.001). At 6-month follow-up, participants from either center who attended three or more group screenings (n=74, 64%) reported significantly greater activation (P<.001), more minutes walking (P<.001) and engaging in vigorous physical activity (P=.006), and better health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Survey (SF-12) mental component summary, P<.001; SF-12 physical component summary, P=.002).

Conclusion: Delivering this pilot intervention in community senior centers is a potentially promising approach to activating seniors that warrants further investigation for improving chronic disease outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Health-related quality of life by number of screenings attended
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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