The development and feasibility of a new service to promote health and well-being in older people who are starting to become frailer: The HomeHealth study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11986672 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11986672 |
| Protocol serial number | 17444 |
| Sponsor | University College London |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research |
- Submission date
- 02/12/2015
- Registration date
- 02/12/2015
- Last edited
- 07/02/2018
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Signs and Symptoms
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Meeting the needs of the growing number of older people with complex health and social problems remains a challenge to the NHS and social care. As people continue to live longer, it is important to find better ways to support their health and well-being so that they can stay active and independent for as long as possible. It is estimated that around 44% of older people have symptoms of mild frailty. Common difficulties that can be experienced include getting tired more easily, feeling weaker, a loss of appetite, low mood or finding it harder to go outdoors regularly. Having early support with these sorts of difficulties can help to maintain independence for longer. Health promotion is a way of helping people to have more control over their health so that they can improve it. Health promotion programmes aimed at older people have been introduced in the NHS in recent years, as they have the potential to make a real difference. In this study, a home-base health and well-being promotion programme has been designed in order to help promote healthy aging. The aim of this study is to find out whether this programme is feasible an acceptable way of delivering health and well-being promotion to older people in the community.
Who can participate?
Adults over 65, living at home with symptoms such as feeling like everything is more of a struggle, loss of energy or muscle strength.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group take part in a personally tailored health and well-being promotion programme, delivered using a combination of home visits by a HomeHealth worker and telephone calls over a period of 6 months. Those in the second group continue to receive treatment as usual throughout the study. At the start of the study and after 3 and 6 months, participants in both groups will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires designed to assess their general health and mental well-being. At the end of the 6 month study, the possibility of conducting a larger trial is examined by reviewing the number of participants who have taken part in the study and how many participants completed the study.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
University College London (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2014 to March 2016
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
1. Ms Kalpa Kharicha (public)
k.kharicha@ucl.ac.uk
2. Dr Kate Walters (scientific)
Contact information
Public
Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences
Hampstead Campus, Rowland Hill Street
London
NW3 2PF
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 20 7830 2392 |
|---|---|
| k.kharicha@ucl.ac.uk |
Scientific
Dept. Primary Care & Population Health
University College London (UCL)
Royal Free Campus
Rowland Hill Street
London
NW3 2PF
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-2173-2430 |
|---|
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Prevention, Treatment |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Home based health promotion for vulnerable older people |
| Study objectives | To develop and test feasibility/acceptability of a new home-based intervention to promote health and well-being of older people with early frailty. For detailed study objectives and study protocol please see: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/1219210 |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES Committee London - Camden & Islington, 03/10/2014, ref: 14/LO/1698 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Topic: Primary Care, Ageing; Subtopic: Ageing, Ageing; Disease: All Diseases, All Ageing |
| Intervention | General Practices will identify eligible patients and invite them to take part. Participants will be randomised to receive the intervention or treatment as usual. Intervention visits will be recorded and assessed for content/fidelity. The intervention, called "HomeHealth", was developed in the first phase of the study, using a co-design process. It is an assets-based intervention, with the emphasis on maintaining capability to perform tasks that are important to the individual and participating in activities that the individual takes pleasure in. It is underpinned by behaviour change theory and employs techniques including goal-setting and breaking down tasks into manageable steps. Behaviour change aspects of the intervention will be based on the COM-B model, which is a behaviour system involving three essential conditions: Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation. The content of the HomeHealth service will be tailored to the needs of the individual, and will include an assessment of four core areas known to impact on frailty: mobility (balance and muscle strength), diet and nutrition, social networks and mood. Other potential areas that may be included in the service (according to individual need) are: memory concerns, medication use, sensory impairment, pain, incontinence, needs of the individual as a carer, and social/practical factors (e.g. maintaining their home or managing finances). The HomeHealth worker will offer an initial up to 6 appointments, with the option of a further 6 if required, over a maximum period of 6 months. The initial assessment visit will be face-to-face and subsequent appointments can be face-to-face or by telephone or skype as appropriate. Those randomised to the control arm will receive treatment as usual. Both groups will receive a booklet of local services and healthy ageing advice at 6 months follow-up. The consort diagram below outlines the follow-up for both arms. The duration of follow-up is 6 months (i.e. immediately post the 6 months intervention period only) as this is a feasibility randomised controlled trial. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Feasibility is determined by successful recruitment and retention into the study, measured at the end of the trial period |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Quality of life outcomes are measured using the EQ-5D questionnaire at baseline and 6 months |
| Completion date | 28/02/2017 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 100 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 65 or over 2. Registered with one of participating General Practices 3. Score as ‘pre-frail’ (0.2 - 0.35 on the Frailty Index of cumulative deficits 9) 4. Community-dwelling (including people living in extra care housing) 5. Life expectancy greater than 6 months 6. Capacity to consent to participate in this research (including those with dementia or communication difficulties who retain capacity to consent) |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Those living in care homes 2. On GP palliative care register 3. Those who lack capacity to consent (e.g. advanced dementia); those already case managed (e.g. by community matrons, some reablement schemes) |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/12/2014 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/04/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Hampstead Campus
London
NW3 2PF
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/12/2017 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
07/02/2018: Publication reference added.
