The Effects of Home Visit Healthcare Using a Complex Program on Community-dwelling Frail Elders' Strength, Frailty, and Depression

Abstract

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of home visit healthcare using a complex program on community-dwelling frail elders’ physical strength, frailty, and depression and to compare the effects among three regions. Methods: This study was conducted as a quasi-experimental study using one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 86 subjects were sampled from three regions (metropolis, small city, and rural area). The program was applied for 14 weeks. This program consisted of disease management by a visiting nurse, exercise with a visiting nurse, self exercise, telephone monitoring, health education, counseling, providing handbook, and incentive. Physical strength was measured by balance, upper-limb, and lower-limb muscle strength. Frailty was measured by the Korean Frail Scale and depression was measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale. Paired t-test and ANCOVA were used to analyze the effects. Results: Physical strength, frailty, and depression were significantly improved after applying the complex program. There were not differences among the regions. Conclusion: Home visit healthcare using a complex program was effective in improving frail elders’ physical strength, frailty, and depression. There were not differences among the regions. Therefore, home visit healthcare using a complex program needs to be expanded to other regions.