title: Improving Health Related Quality of Life and Independence in Community Dwelling Frail Older Adults through a Client-Centred and Activity-Oriented Program. A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the ageing society, a considerable part of the older adults are frail. Frailty has a major impact on the individual's quality of life, independence and also on his environment. This study aimed to investigate - as a secondary prevention of disability - the effectiveness of a client-centred and activity-oriented intervention program for frail community living older adults. It was hypothesized that this program could be effective in improving basic Activities of Daily Living (b-ADL) and increasing Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a single blind randomized controlled trial with an intervention and a control group (pre-test-post-test control group design). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the outcome across groups with post-test as outcome and baseline values as a covariate. Data were analysed using the intention-to-treat principle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group (n = 86) experienced more improvement on b-ADL and HRQoL compared with the control group (n = 82). These effects were statistically significant for the b-ADL index (p = 0.013) and the 'physical subscale pain' (p = 0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These positive results can be seen as promising for further development of intervention strategies, although follow-up study should be conducted to determine long term effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Patricia De Vriendt, Artevelde University College, Voetweg, 69, 9000 Ghent, Belgium, 00 32 479 654110, patricia.devriendt@arteveldehs.be.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Vriendt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peersman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Florus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verbeke
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van de Velde
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method