Health education on self-management and seeking health care in older adults: a randomised trial.
The aim of this randomised trial was to determine the effects of a health education strategy for older adults living at home on GP attendance. The health education comprised a written booklet on five frequently by GP unnoticed, highly prevalent and potentially treatable health problems: hearing impairment, visual impairment, urinary incontinence, depression and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). The information comprised structured guidance to enhance decision-making on seeking health care by their GP and contained advice on self-management. The control group did not receive any intervention. Primary outcome was GP attendance of patients regarding the five health problems within 3 months. At this point we expected an increase of GP attendance. Six hundred and eighty-seven subjects completed the study. We can conclude that the health education strategy did not change the GP attendance of older adults. The results suggest that the health education was being appreciated as being useful and informative.
Centre for Quality of Care Research, University Medical Centre Nijmegen 229, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. m.vaneijken@hag.umcn.nl
Monique
M
van Eijken
Michel
M
Wensing
Marijke
M
de Konink
Myrra
M
Vernooy
Gerhard
G
Zielhuis
Toine
T
Lagro
Marcel Olde
MO
Rikkert
Richard
R
Grol
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010174:Pamphlets; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000592:standards