Home-Based Exercise Supported by General Practitioner Practices: Ineffective in a Sample of Chronically Ill, Mobility-Limited Older Adults (the HOMEfit Randomized Controlled Trial)

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects a home-based exercise program delivered to ill and mobility-limited elderly individuals on physical function, physical activity, quality of life, fall-related self-efficacy, and exercise self-efficacy. DesignRandomized controlled trial (ISRCTN Registry, Reg.-No. ISRCTN17727272). SettingFifteen general practitioner (GP) practices and participants' homes. ParticipantsChronically ill and mobility-limited individuals aged 70 and older (N = 209). InterventionsAn exercise therapist delivered the experimental interventiona 12-week multidimensional home-based exercise program integrating behavioral strategiesin individual counseling sessions at the GPs' practices and over the telephone. The control intervention focused on promoting light-intensity activities of daily living. Interventions took place between February 2012 and March 2013. MeasurementsThe primary outcome was functional lower body strength (chair-rise test). Secondary outcomes were physical function (battery of motor tests), physical activity (step count), health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 8-item Short-Form Survey), fall-related (Falls Efficacy ScaleInternational Version), and exercise self-efficacy (Selbstwirksamkeit zur sportlichen Aktivitaet (SSA) scale). Postintervention differences between the groups were tested using analysis of covariance (intention to treat; adjusted for baseline value and GP practice; significance level P .05). ResultsParticipants had a mean age standard deviation of 80 +/- 5, 74% were female, 87% had three or more chronic diseases, and 54% used a walking aid. The difference (intention to treat; experimental minus control) between adjusted postintervention chair-rise times was -0.1 (95% confidence interval = -1.8-1.7). Differences for all secondary outcomes were also nonsignificant. ConclusionThe program was ineffective in the target population. Possibilities for improving the concept will have to be evaluated.