Effectiveness of a Health Education Program in a Primary Care Setting

Frail Elderly Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effectiveness of a Health Education Program in a Primary Care Setting

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00012779
• Other study ID #: IIR 95-118
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• First received: March 14, 2001
• Last updated: April 6, 2015
• Est. completion date: March 2003

Study information

• Verified date: June 2005
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a Health Education Program (HEP) for improving the well-being and reducing the health care use and cost of care of frail older outpatient veterans, and for improving the well-being of their spouse caregivers. HEP is a multi-component group program delivered in 8 weekly, 2-hour sessions, and 10 monthly 2-hour follow-up sessions, it includes emotion-focused and problem focused coping strategies, education and support.

Description:

Background:

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a Health Education Program (HEP) for improving the well-being and reducing the health care use and cost of care of frail older outpatient veterans, and for improving the well-being of their spouse caregivers. HEP is a multi-component group program delivered in 8 weekly, 2-hour sessions, and 10 monthly 2-hour follow-up sessions, it includes emotion-focused and problem focused coping strategies, education and support.

Objectives:

The objectives of this study are to evaluate: 1) effects of HEP on the perceived health status, emotional well-being, and social support of frail veterans; 2) effects of HEP on the perceived health, emotional well-being, social support, burden levels, self-appraisal of change, pressing problems associated with caregiving, knowledge and use of community resources by caregiver; and 3) effects of HEP on the health care use and costs of care recipients.

Methods:

HEP was evaluated using a randomized control group design. The design has two levels of intervention, HEP vs. Usual Care (UC), 3 VA medical centers (VAMCs), and 4 times of measurement (at baseline, after the 8th HEP meeting, and at 1 and 2 years after baseline). Data reported here are for 8 week and 1-year psychosocial outcomes and 18 months for VA cost. Caregivers and veterans (n = 466) were randomized in 3 VAMCs, 114 to UC and 119 to HEP. The typical caregiver was 68 years old, married, white, female, with some college education and living with the veteran. The typical veteran care recipient was 74 years old, white, male with some college education, and suffered from one or more chronic health problems. Fifteen HEP groups were conducted. Caregivers and recipients were assessed on: 1) health and functional status; 2) emotional well-being; and 3) social support. In addition, caregivers were assessed for change in coping skills, change in burden level, pressing problems, and knowledge and use of community resources. Data was analyzed using random effects regression models.

Status:

Data on two-year outcomes for health and functional status, emotional well-being, and social support of caregivers and veterans, problems associated with caregiving and Medicare plus VA costs are being collected and analyzed for an amended final report.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 288
• Est. completion date: March 2003
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 55 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Caregiver inclusion criteria: 2) married to, and living with, the care recipient; 2) age 55 and older; 3) being the primary care provider for the care recipient and reporting at least a moderate level of burden on the Caregiver Strain Index; 4) report spouse has poor health care; and 5) receiver age 55 and suffering from chronic health condition.

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Frail Elderly

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Health Education Program

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Albany VA Medical Center Samuel S. Stratton, Albany, NY	Albany	New York
United States	VA Boston Healthcare System Brockton Campus, Brockton, MA	Brockton	Massachusetts
United States	VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY	Buffalo	New York

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
VA Office of Research and Development

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States,