Program development using intervention mapping in primary healthcare settings to address elder abuse: A randomized controlled pilot study

BACKGROUND: Abuse of elderly women is of great concern and yet relatively little is known about interventions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop and test a culturally informed treatment, based on Intervention Mapping (IM), for primary healthcare settings. The intervention targets family members of elderly women and seeks to reduce elder abuse. METHODS: N = 80 family members of elderly women were randomized to intervention or control. Elderly women completed assessment prior to randomization. Elder abuse was measured by self‐reported frequency of neglect, physical, psychological, and financial abuse in the last 2 months across 16 items. Intervention included 4 sessions, each under 1 hr. At 2‐month follow‐up, elderly women completed an assessment. Linear mixed modeling was used for analyses. RESULTS: Significant reduction in frequency of psychological abuse and neglect was found in comparison to control, with trend effects for financial abuse (F = 127.12, p < .005; F = 95.4; p < .005; and F = 16.53, p < .07, respectively). Physical abuse was infrequent. CONCLUSION: This culturally tailored intervention reduced elder abuse. Given its basis in IM, it is well‐positioned for roll‐out and testing in a larger randomized trial to study adoption, implementation, and sustainability in practice settings.