Improving the health behaviours of elderly people: randomised controlled trial of a general practice education programme.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the effect of an educational intervention for general practitioners on the health behaviours and wellbeing of elderly patients.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial with 1 year follow up.


METHODS
Metropolitan general practices in Melbourne, Australia.


METHODS
42 general practitioners and 267 of their patients aged over 65 years.


METHODS
Educational and clinical practice audit programme for general practitioners on health promotion for elderly people.


METHODS
Patients' physical activity, functional status, self rated health, immunisation status, social contacts, psychological wellbeing, drug usage, and rate of influenza vaccination. Primary efficacy variables were changes in outcome measures over 1 year period.


RESULTS
Patients in the intervention group had increased (a) walking by an average of 88 minutes per fortnight, (b) frequency of pleasurable activities, and (c) self rated health compared with the control group. No change was seen in drug usage, rate of influenza vaccination, functional status, or psychological wellbeing as a result of the intervention. Extrapolations of the known effect of these changes in behaviour suggest mortality could be reduced by 22% if activity was sustained for 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Education of the general practitioners had a positive effect on health outcomes of their elderly patients. General practitioners may have considerable public health impact in promotion of health for elderly patients.
Kerse
N M
NM
Department of General Practice and Public Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. n.kerse@auckland.ac.nz
Flicker
L
L
Jolley
D
D
Arroll
B
B
Young
D
D
D000368:Aged; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015444:Exercise; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012919:Social Behavior; D014504:Urban Health; D014739:Victoria; D016138:Walking