Does monitoring change in function in community-dwelling older adults alter outcome? A randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether information about an older person's physical functioning provided to the patient and his or her physician delays functional decline and improves health outcomes.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial was undertaken; the assessors were not blinded to the group allocation.


METHODS
The study took place in a clinic within a hospital setting.


METHODS
Two hundred and sixty-five community-dwelling people over 65 years were recruited from family practice units.


METHODS
The intervention group received assessments of physical function with feedback to the participant and the participant's family physician or functional assessments alone over 18 months. Self-report measures for health status using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and preclinical disability were used together with performance measures which included the lower extremity performance test and muscle strength.


RESULTS
There were small, statistically significant group/time interactions which included disability scores, F=4.78, P < or =0.05), and the vitality subscale of the SF-36, F=7.47, P < or =0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Providing information about the results of detailed assessment of physical functioning to older adults and their physicians did not show significant differences in function scores between the intervention and control groups.
Richardson
Julie
J
School of Rehabilitation Science, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. jrichard@mcmaster.ca
Chan
David
D
Risdon
Kathy
K
Giles
Christopher
C
Mulveney
Susan
S
Cripps
Donna
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations