Combating Hospital-related Function Decline Among Prefrail Older Adults: A Pilot Study (STEP@Home)

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Geriatrics; Frailty

Treatments: Behavioral: Usual care; Behavioral: STEP@Home Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06191276

STEP@Home

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study focuses on the "Strength-based Tailored-Exercise Program at Home (STEP@Home)" aimed at improving health outcomes for geriatric patients at risk of hospitalization-associated functional decline. It is a sequential mixed-method study that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Full description

The research is a pilot study to develop the STEP@Home intervention, integrating a strength-based, tailored exercise regimen for elderly patients post-hospital discharge. It addresses hospitalization-associated functional decline (HAFD) by engaging patients in sustainable self-practice of physical exercises at home. The study employs empowerment strategies, lifestyle-integrated functional exercises, and optimized tele-platform use to maximize therapeutic benefits. By focusing on empowering patients through sustainable self-practice of physical exercises at home, it aims to enhance physical functions and improve health-related quality of life. The study also has significant real-world implications, potentially offering a scalable, effective solution for the broader geriatric population to manage HAFD, thereby reducing healthcare costs and improving overall well-being. The research intends to assess the program's impact on physical functions and health-related quality of life, utilizing a sequential mixed-method approach for a comprehensive evaluation.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• i) aged 60 or above, ii) prefrail as defined by a score of 1-2 on the Frail Scale (FS) which measures fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness and weight loss over the last 4 weeks, iii) discharged home without any community care referral, iv) cognitively capable to receive exercise training as indicated by an Abbreviated Mental Test score of ≥ 6, and v) consented to participate

Exclusion criteria

• (i) engaging in moderate or vigorous exercise (>60min/week) in the past 6 months, and (ii) with conditions contradictory to exercise training (e.g., acute muscular-skeletal problem, acute and unstable cardio-respiratory disease, etc).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

STEP@Home Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

This arm involves participants undergoing the 20-week STEP@Home multi-component exercise training program. The program is designed to recondition the functional status of older adults in the post-discharge period and develop long-term exercise engagement.

Treatment:

Behavioral: STEP@Home Intervention

Usual care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group receive the usual post-discharge care provided in the hospital setting, including general education on medication, disease-related self-care, and regular medical follow-ups.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Usual care