Elderly persons in the risk zone
"Elderly persons in the risk zone" is a health-promoting and preventive intervention study. The intention was that the study group should comprise a representative sample of pre-frail 80-year old persons still living at home in two municipalities of Gothenburg: The participants should live in their ordinary housing and not be dependent on the municipal home help service or care. Further, they should be independent of help from another person in activities of daily living and be cognitively intact, having a score of 25 or higher as assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).
The participants were randomised to three study groups: two intervention groups and one control group.
- Intervention A; Senior meetings and one follow-up home visit
- Intervention B; Preventive home visit
- Control group
459 persons were included in the study, 171 in intervention A, 174 in intervention B and 114 in the control group. All participants received a first visit that comprised an interview, assessment and observation. The first visit, i.e.the baseline interview, was performed in the participant's home by research assistants well trained in interviewing, assessing and observing according to the guidelines for the different outcome measurements. Follow-up data were collected in all groups at 3 months, 1 year and 2 years after intervention, also in the participant's home by well trained research assistants.
Purpose:
The intervention study aimed to prove the following two hypotheses:
1) If an intervention is made when the elderly persons are not so frail, it is possible to prevent/delay deterioration; 2) A multi-dimensional and multi-professional intervention is more effective than preventive home visits alone.
The dataset includes the participants in the two intervention groups and in the control group, a total of 459 participants. The baseline intervention was carried out between January 2008 and December 2010, and follow ups at 3 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Contact for data - Katarina Wilhelmson
Opens in a new tabkatarina.wilhelmson@socmed.gu.se
Citation and access
Citation and access
Data access level:
Creator/Principal investigator(s):
- Synneve Dahlin-Ivanoff - University of Gothenburg - Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology
Research principal:
Data contains personal data:
No
Citation:
Method and outcome
Method and outcome
Study design:
- Experimental study
Sampling procedure:
Description of sampling:
Eligible persons for the study were drawn from official registers of all persons over 80 years of age in the two municipalities. Equal numbers from the two municipalities were listed in random order. The persons were included in the sample consecutively using the simple random sampling chart until the intended sample size was reached. Invitation letters were then sent to all persons in the sample asking them to participate in the study. The letter described the study, how it would be conducted and what would be expected of those consenting to participate. The letter stressed the fact that participation was voluntary. The letter was followed up by a telephone call about 1-2 weeks later. 365 persons out of 2031 persons were either non-eligible or not traceable. The remaining persons was then informed verbally about the study and given the opportunity to ask questions if anything was unclear. They were also asked personally if they would like to participate, while again stressing that this was voluntary. After a baseline interview, those who fulfilled the study criteria were randomised to one of the three study arms by the use of sealed opaque envelopes. If eligible persons lived together, they were always allocated to the same intervention group.
Time period(s) investigated:
Number of individuals/objects:
459
Data format/data structure:
Data collections - 4 collections
Data collections - 4 collections
Data collection - Face-to-face interview
Data collection - Face-to-face interview
Mode of collection:
Face-to-face interview
Time period(s) for data collection:
2008 - 2011
Source of the data:
- Population group
Data collection - Focus group
Data collection - Focus group
Mode of collection:
Focus group
Time period(s) for data collection:
2008 - 2011
Source of the data:
- Population group
Data collection - Physical measurements and tests
Data collection - Physical measurements and tests
Mode of collection:
Physical measurements and tests
Time period(s) for data collection:
2008 - 2011
Source of the data:
- Population group
Data collection - Observation
Data collection - Observation
Mode of collection:
Observation
Time period(s) for data collection:
2008 - 2011
Source of the data:
- Population group
Geographic coverage
Geographic coverage
Geographic description:
Örgryte and Härlanda in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Administrative information
Administrative information
Responsible department/unit:
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology
Ethics Review:
Gothenburg - 650-07
Topic and keywords
Topic and keywords
CESSDA Topic Classification:
Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2025:
Publications
Publications
Citation:
Gustafsson S, Eklund K, Wilhelmson K, Edberg AK, Johansson B, Häggblom Kronlöf G, Gosman-Hedström G, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Long-term outcome for ADL following the health-promoting RCT--elderly persons in the risk zone.. Gerontologist. 2013 Aug;53(4):654-63. doi: 10.1093/geront/gns121.
Citation:
Wilhelmson K, Eklund K. Positive effects on life satisfaction following health-promoting interventions for frail older adults: a randomized controlled study. Health Psychology Research 2013 1 (1): 44-50.
Citation:
Behm L, Ivanoff SD, Zidén L. Preventive home visits and health--experiences among very old people. BMC Public Health. 2013 Apr 23;13:378. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-378.
Citation:
Gustafsson S, Eklund K, Wilhelmson K, Edberg AK, Johansson B, Kronlöf GH, Gosman-Hedström G, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Long-Term Outcome for ADL Following the Health-Promoting RCT - Elderly Persons in the Risk Zone. Gerontologist. 2013 Aug;53(4):654-63. doi: 10.1093/geront/gns121.
Citation:
Zidén L, Häggblom-Kronlöf G, Gustafsson S, Lundin-Olsson L, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Physical function and fear of falling 2 years after a health-promoting randomized controlled trial: Elderly Persons in the Risk Zone. The Gerontologist 2013;54(3):387-97, doi:10.1093/geront/gnt078
Citation:
Behm L, Zidén L, Dunér A, Falk K, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Multi-professional and multi-dimensional group education--a key to action in elderly persons. Disabil Rehabil. 2013 Mar;35(5):427-35. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2012.697249.
Citation:
Welmer A, Mörck A, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Physical activity in people age 80 years and older as a means of counteracting disability, balanced in relation to frailty. J Aging Phys Act. 2012;20(3):317-31.
Citation:
Wilhelmson K, Fritzell E, Eklund K, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Life satisfaction and frailty among older adults. Health Psychology Research 2013 1 (3): 167-172. doi: 10.4081/hpr.2013.e32
Citation:
Dahlin-Ivanoff S. (red.). Livslots för seniorer. Göteborg, Vårdalinstitutet 2009.
Citation:
Gustafsson S, Wilhelmson K, Eklund K, Gosman-Hedström G, Zidén L, Häggblom Kronlöf G, Højgaard B, Slinde F, Rothenberg E, Landahl S, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Health-Promoting Interventions for Persons 80 Years and Over are Successful in the Short Term - Results from the Randomized and Three-Armed Study Elderly Persons in the Risk Zone. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012: 60(3):447-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03861.x.
Citation:
Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Äldre i riskzon; En hälsofrämjande och sjukdomsförebyggande intervention för de allra äldsta. Vårdalnytt 2009; (2):18.
Citation:
Ottenvall Hammar I, Dahlin-Ivanoff S, Wilhelmson K, Eklund K. Shifting between self-governing and being governed: a qualitative study of older persons' self-determination. BMC Geriatrics 2014,14:126 doi:10.1186/1471-2318-14-126.
Citation:
Behm L, Wilhelmson K, Falk K, Eklund K, Zidén L, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Positive health outcomes following health-promoting and disease-preventive interventions for independent very old persons: long-term results of the three-armed RCT Elderly Persons in the Risk Zone. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2014 May-Jun;58(3):376-83. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2013.12.010.
Citation:
Dahlin-Ivanoff S, Gosman-Hedström G, Edberg AK, Wilhelmson K, Eklund K, Duner A, Ziden L, Welmer AK, Landahl S. Elderly persons in the risk zone. Design of a multidimensional, health-promoting, randomised three-armed controlled trial for "prefrail" people of 80+ years living at home. BMC Geriatr. 2010 May 26;10:27. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-10-27.
Citation:
Fornazar R, Spak F, Dahlin-Ivanoff S, Wilhelmson K. Alcohol consumption among the oldest old and how it changes during two years. ISRN Geriatrics 2013. Article ID 671218, 10 pages. doi:10.1155/2013/671218.
Citation:
Lidén L, Häggblom-Kronlöf G, Gustafsson S, Lundin-Olsson L, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Physical function and fear of falling 2 years after the health-promoting randomized controlled trial: elderly persons in the risk zone. Gerontologist. 2014 Jun;54(3):387-97. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt078. Epub 2013 Aug 1.
