Healthy aging demonstration project: nurse coaching for behavior change in older adults.
The Healthy Aging Project (HAP) tested nurse coaching as a method to support healthy behavior change in older adults. The sample included 111 individuals randomized to a nurse coaching group or usual-care control group. Participants in the intervention group chose the health behaviors they wanted to change and received coaching by nurses in a single in-person session followed by telephone calls or email contact for 6 months. Nurses were trained in motivational interviewing (MI). The intervention group had significantly less illness intrusiveness and health distress than the control group at 6 months, although it is not known whether these health outcomes resulted from behavior changes. This clinical demonstration project showed that nurse-delivered MI, primarily using the telephone and email, is a feasible method to discuss behavioral change with older adults. However, future clinical trials will be needed to evaluate the efficacy of nurse-delivered MI on actual behavioral changes in older adults.
Bennett
Jill A
JA
School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239-2941, USA.
Perrin
Nancy A
NA
Hanson
Ginger
G
Bennett
Diane
D
Gaynor
William
W
Flaherty-Robb
Marna
M
Joseph
Carol
C
Butterworth
Susan
S
Potempa
Kathleen
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009922:Oregon; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013689:Telephone