[Acceptance of preventive home visits among frail elderly persons : Participants an non-participants in a Follow-up after 2 and 4 years within the LUCAS longitudinal study].
BACKGROUND
The objective of preventive home visits (PHV) is to support independent living of elderly people. The target group is a matter of discussion and acceptance so far seems to have been low. The target group favored in studies were persons with functional impairments living independently; therefore, acceptance of this offer by frail persons and characteristics of participants and non-participants were studied.


METHODS
All participants classified as frail in the longitudinal urban cohort ageing study (LUCAS; BMBF Fkz 01ET0708-13/01, ET1002A-D/01EL1407) were randomized (RCT) in 2007/2008 into an intervention group (174 persons) and a control group (379 persons). Participants in the intervention group were offered the option of a PHV. Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were compared between the participants with a PHV, non-participants and controls at baseline and after 2 and 4 years. Non-participants who refused the offer of the PHV were asked about their reasons.


RESULTS
There were 64 persons (36.8 %) in the intervention group classified as frail who accepted the offer of a PHV. Of these, significantly more lived alone, tended to be female with a higher educational level and with less need of care. After 2 years significantly more persons in the group without PHV had died and after 4 years more participants with PHV reported a depressive mood. There were no other significant differences between the groups. Half of the reasons not to accept the PHV that were reported by the non-participants were because of health-related or psychological problems and one third because of lack of interest or need for PHV.


CONCLUSIONS
The offer of PHV to frail elderly persons with an unlimited age was associated with a relatively high acceptance. The high number of refusals by non-participants with functional impairments is remarkable and needs further investigation.
Pflege- und Alternsforschung, Hamburgische Pflegegesellschaft e. V., Burchardstr. 19, 20095, Hamburg, Deutschland. franz.proefener@hpg-ev.de.
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F
Pröfener
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Bethesda Krankenhaus Bergedorf, Bergedorf, Deutschland.
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J
Anders
Forschungsabteilung Albertinen-Haus, Zentrum für Geriatrie und Gerontologie, Wissenschaftliche Einrichtung an der Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Deutschland.
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U
Dapp
Horten Zentrum, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Schweiz.
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CE
Minder
Forschungsabteilung Albertinen-Haus, Zentrum für Geriatrie und Gerontologie, Wissenschaftliche Einrichtung an der Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Deutschland.
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S
Golgert
Forschungsabteilung Albertinen-Haus, Zentrum für Geriatrie und Gerontologie, Wissenschaftliche Einrichtung an der Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Deutschland.
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W
von Renteln-Kruse
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006792:House Calls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014600:Utilization Review
Acceptance; Frailty; Non-participants; Preventive home visit; Target group