A NOVEL PHYSICAL THERAPY EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THEIR HOME

Whitney S1, Ellis J2, Otis L2, Marchetti G3
1University of Pittsburgh, Physical Therapy, Pittsburgh, United States, 2Kindred at Home, Division Research & Business Development, Knoxville, United States, 3Duquesne University, Physical Therapy, Pittsburgh, United States

Background: Safe Strides® plus Zōntago™ was designed consisting of motivational interviewing with subsequent positive reinforcement of adherence to a home program, individualized/structured progressive interventions, customized exercise intensity prescription, and prioritized patient-skill-acquisition training to maximize the benefit of physical therapy home care services.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was difference in the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) ADL item scores between the Safe Strides® program and Safe Strides® plus Zōntago™ program.

Methods: The design was a prospective randomized quality improvement study. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants had been trained in Safe Strides with four of the eight clinics additionally trained in Zōntago™. De-identified OASIS data from patient records were retrieved.

Results: ADL change scores were analyzed for 112 patient care episodes. The Safe Strides + Zontago™ mean total ADL score change was 10.0 ± 3.7 compared with the Safe Strides group 7.9 ± 4.1 ( p = .024, ES = .25). The Safe Strides + Zontago™ group had greater change in total ADL score per visit (.44 ± .25) compared with the Safe Strides alone (.34 ± .24, Z = 2.38, P = .017, ES = .40). The Safe-strides+ Zontago™ group had greater change in ADL scores per therapy visit (Z = 2.22, P = .027, ES = .41) and ADL score per day of episode of care (Z = 2.16, P = .031, ES = .30) than Safe Strides® alone.

Conclusion(s): The Safe Strides® + Zontago™ compared to Safe Strides® alone improved patient functional outcomes.

Implications: The interactive effects of motivational interviewing with targeted/positive reinforcement, providing individualized/structured progressive interventions, having the patients work in the moderate to a moderate to high exercise intensity, and prioritizing patient-skill-acquisition training may add value in the treatment of an older adult seen in the home.

Keywords: exercise, older adults, home care

Funding acknowledgements: No funding.

Topic: Older people; Disability & rehabilitation

Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Ethics committee: Biomedical review board
Ethics number: PR016070227


All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.

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