title: MultiComponent Exercise and theRApeutic lifeStyle (CERgAS) intervention to improve physical performance and maintain independent living among urban poor older people--a cluster randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability of older people to function independently is crucial as physical disability and functional limitation have profound impacts on health. Interventions that either delay the onset of frailty or attenuate its severity potentially have cascading benefits for older people, their families and society. This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a multiComponent Exercise and theRApeutic lifeStyle (CERgAS) intervention program targeted at improving physical performance and maintaining independent living as compared to general health education among older people in an urban poor setting in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cluster randomised controlled trial will be a 6-week community-based intervention programme for older people aged 60 years and above from urban poor settings. A minimum of 164 eligible participants will be recruited from 8 clusters (low-cost public subsidised flats) and randomised to the intervention and control arm. This study will be underpinned by the Health Belief Model with an emphasis towards self-efficacy. The intervention will comprise multicomponent group exercise sessions, nutrition education, oral care education and on-going support and counselling. These will be complemented with a kit containing practical tips on exercise, nutrition and oral care after each session. Data will be collected over four time points; at baseline, immediately post-intervention, 3-months and 6-months follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this trial will potentially provide valuable evidence to improve physical function and maintain independence among older people from low-resource settings. This will inform health policies and identify locally acceptable strategies to promote healthy aging, prevent and delay functional decline among older Malaysian adults.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN22749696.
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. debbieloh@siswa.um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Debbie Ann
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. noran@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Noran Naqiah
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Hairi
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ccwy@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Wan Yuen
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. farizah@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Farizah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohd Hairi
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. devi@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Devi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peramalah
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. priyas@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Shathanapriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kandiben
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. doreen@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Pek Ling
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. norlissa@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Norlissa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gani
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. farismadzlan@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Mohamed Faris
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Madzlan
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. alifidham90@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohd Alif Idham
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abd Hamid
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drzohaibakram@siswa.um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Zohaib
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Akram
authors.affiliation: Fitness First Malaysia, Menara MBF, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. i.angle@yahoo.com.sg.
authors.forename: Ai Sean
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. awang@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Awang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulgiba
authors.affiliation: Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia. robert.cumming@sydney.edu.au.|Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. robert.cumming@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cumming
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008019:Life Style; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014504:Urban Health