An eHealth Intervention to Improve Quality of Life for Older Adults
Background
In the U.S., over 60% of adults aged 65 and older have multiple chronic health conditions. This leads to a lower quality of life, complex treatments that are less focused on patient needs, and higher healthcare costs. A previous study on ElderTree, an eHealth program for older adults, showed benefits in socioemotional well-being for those frequently visiting primary care.
Objective
This study aimed to see if the ElderTree intervention, tailored for older patients with multiple chronic conditions, could improve socioemotional and physical health when combined with primary care.
Methods
In a randomized controlled trial, 346 participants aged 65 and older, with at least three chronic conditions, were assigned to either the ElderTree intervention or a control group. They were followed for 12 months, with assessments of mental and physical quality of life, psychological well-being, and loneliness.
Results
- At 12 months, 76.1% of ElderTree participants continued using the program.
- ElderTree significantly improved mental quality of life, but had no effect on physical health, psychological well-being, or loneliness.
- Women experienced stronger improvements in mental quality of life compared to men.
- The improvements in mental health were linked to better feelings of relatedness after six months.
Conclusions
The ElderTree program showed potential for enhancing socioemotional outcomes but did not affect physical health. This may be due to the specific chronic conditions included in the study. Two more trials are currently exploring ElderTree for older adults with chronic pain and severe conditions.
Clinical Trials Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03387735; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03387735
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