Paper
Friday, 21 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Care of Aging Persons
Quality of Life, Exercise Endurance and Functionality Following an Intervention to Reduce Unplanned Health Service Use for Older Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Mary Courtney, PhD1, Helen Edwards, PhD1, Anne M. Chang, RN, DipNEd, BEdSt, (Hons), MEdSt, PhD2, Anthony Parker, PhD3, and Kathleen Finlayson, BN, MNsg1. (1) School of Nursing, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, (2) Nursing Research Centre (inc. Queensland Centre for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery), Mater Health Services and Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, (3) School of Human Movements, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
Learning Objective #1: understand the impact of an intervention to improve endurance, functional ability and HRQL in older hospitalised patients at risk of readmission
Learning Objective #2: understand the components of an RCT designed for older people at risk of hospital readmission
Problem, Aims and Design:  Older people have significantly higher rates of hospital admission and length of stay than the general population, along with higher rates of hospital re-admission due to complications and falls. During hospitalisation, many older people experience significant deconditioning and functional decline which impacts on their future levels of independence and quality of life. This randomised controlled trial aimed to design, deliver, and evaluate an innovative model of discharge planning and in-home exercise-based follow-up for community-living frail older people at high risk of hospital re-admission.

Subjects and Methods:  A sample of 80 hospitalised men and woman aged 65 years and older at risk of hospital readmission were randomly assigned into either an intervention or control group. Control subjects received routine hospital care and follow-up, whilst intervention subjects received a six-month comprehensive follow-up protocol including an individualised in-home exercise program designed to improve strength, stability, endurance, and self-confidence. Measures about general health, well-being, functional ability and health service use were collected from both groups at baseline, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks post discharge. Results:  Significant improvements in exercise endurance, functional ability and health-related quality of life measures were found in the intervention group in comparison to the control group at 12 weeks and 24 weeks post discharge. The intervention group participants also reported a reduction in unexpected emergency health service visits during the 24 weeks.

Conclusion:  Results indicate this follow-up program can improve health, quality of life and reduce health service use for older adults at risk of hospital readmission.

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