Effectiveness of a nursing consultation intervention for older people with functional mobility impairments: a prospective, longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND

There is a need for prevention strategies in elderly individuals with mobility impairments.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of nursing consultations on the functional abilities and quality of life of elderly individuals with mobility impairments after discharge from a rehabilitation facility.

METHODS

A single-site, prospective, longitudinal study with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted in a geriatric rehabilitation facility and in the living environments of the patients after discharge. The intervention consisted of nurse-delivered consulting home visits and follow-up telephone calls. Patient quality of life and functional status were the primary outcomes, and self-efficacy was the secondary outcome. Data were collected at admission, at discharge, and at a 6-month follow-up visit.

RESULTS

A cohort of 124 patients participated in the study. The intervention group showed a nonsignificant improvement in functional status compared with the control group. The intervention did not affect quality of life, except for a trend toward significance in the social domain (p = .060).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study suggest that nursing consultations do not significantly improve functional status and have almost no effect on quality of life.