The effect of individualized, theory-based counselling intervention on active aging and quality of life among older people (the AGNES intervention study)

BACKGROUND: We define active aging as a striving for activities as per one’s goals, capacities and opportunities. AIM: To test the 1-year counselling intervention effects on active aging. METHODS: In this two-arm single-blinded randomized controlled trial, the intervention group received individually tailored counselling supporting autonomous motivation for active life (one face-to-face session, four phone calls and supportive written material, n = 101) and the control group written health information (n = 103). Participants were community-dwelling men and women aged 75 or 80 years with intermediate mobility function and without cognitive impairment. The primary outcome was active aging total score measured with the University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (UJACAS, range 0–272, higher values indicate more activity) and secondary outcomes were its subscores for goals, ability, opportunity and activity (range 0–68) and a quality of life (QoL) score. Measures took place at pre-trial, mid-trial (6 months) and post-trial (12 months), except for QoL only pre and post-trial. Data were analyzed with intention-to-treat principles using GEE-models. RESULTS: The UJACAS total score increased in the intervention group slightly more than in the control group (group by time p-value = 0.050, effect size 0.011, net benefit 2%), but the group effect was not statistically significant. A small effect was observed for the activity subscore (p = 0.007). DISCUSSION: The individualized counselling supporting autonomous motivation for active life increased the UJACAS score slightly. CONCLUSIONS: It may be possible to promote active aging with individualized counselling, but the effect is small and it is unclear whether the change is meaningful.