title: Prevention of Dehydration in Independently Living Elderly People at Risk: A Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dehydration of elderly people living independently is a very important public health issue. This study compares two interventions to prevent dehydration in elderly people at risk: an educational intervention and an educational intervention in combination with a drink reminder device.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an experimental two-armed parallel study. A Public Health Service develops the interventions and will be partnering with a general practice and a university to evaluate the effects. Two groups - all people aged 80 years and older, and people of 65 years and older who have cardiovascular disease - receive a letter from the general practice in which they are asked whether they want to participate in the study and if so to return the form. People who want to participate and whose daily fluid intake is insufficient are randomized to receive either the educational intervention or the educational intervention in combination with a drink reminder device. The participants are asked to fill in a questionnaire before the intervention, 6 weeks after the start of the intervention and 6 months after the start (or after the end) of the intervention. Changes between the two groups in fluid intake, knowledge, awareness of the risks of dehydration, and quality-of-life will be tested by Linear Mixed Model analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will improve the knowledge of the effectiveness of interventions designed to prevent dehydration in elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Department Policy and Research, Regional Public Health Service of West-Brabant, 5003 DA Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Francis J C M
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Konings
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welfare, Tilburg University, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jolanda J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mathijssen
authors.affiliation: De Keen General Practice, Voorsteven 88, 4871 DX Etten-Leur, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jasper M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schellingerhout
authors.affiliation: Department Policy and Research, Regional Public Health Service of West-Brabant, 5003 DA Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ike H T
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kroesbergen
authors.affiliation: Department Policy and Research, Regional Public Health Service of West-Brabant, 5003 DA Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goede de
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welfare, Tilburg University, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ien A M
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Goor de
keywords: Dehydration; drink reminder device; elderly; fluid intake; study protocol