The impact of small group education methods on adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life in Iranian elderly women

Abstract

ABSTRACT Enhancing health and quality of life (QoL) of elderly people is technically challenging. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of small group education method on adherence to Mediterranean diet and QoL in elderly women. In this randomized-controlled study, one hundred 60-74-year-old women were selected from two health centers using random sampling, in 2019, Shiraz, Iran. Each health center was randomly assigned to intervention and control groups (50 women in each group). The intervention group received four weekly education sessions using small group education method (group discussion, brainstorming and role-playing). We collected data through 14-item Mediterranean diet adherence, LEIPAD 31-item quality of life, and researcher-made knowledge and attitude questionnaires. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the participants’ age in the control and intervention groups were 62.7 ± 3.9 and 63.1±3.7 years, respectively (p=0.71). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the controls (p<0.001). The mean ± SD of adherence to the Mediterranean diet changed from 7.24 (2.04) to 10.58 (1.33) in the intervention group (p<0.001). The total QOL score and two subscales, physical and depression/anxiety, increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.015, p< 0.001 and p<0.018, respectively). Similarly, the mean scores of knowledge and attitude increased significantly in the intervention group compared to those of the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.001). It appears that small group education method can provide an effective strategy for increasing adherence to Mediterranean diet and QoL in the elderly.