Medical self-care education for elders: a controlled trial to evaluate impact.
We conducted a trial to evaluate the impact of medical self-care education on 330 elders whose average age was 71. The test group participated in a 13-session educational intervention with training in clinical medicine, life-style, and use of health services. The comparison group received a two-hour lecture-demonstration. Both groups were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one year after entry. The results indicate medical self-care instruction: produces substantial improvements, that were sustained for one year, in health knowledge, skills performance, and skills confidence; stimulates many attempts to improve life-style; and generates improvements in life quality. The program had little influence on utilization of medical care or health status.
D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009513:New Hampshire; D010548:Personal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors