OBJECTIVES

The study covers development and evaluation of an innovative counselling aid in an intervention study. The main purpose of the study was to establish whether improvements in nutrition and physical activity behaviour according to standard recommendations can be demonstrated.

METHODS

OPTIMAHL 60plus is a quasi-experimental study in which participants were assigned in clusters to an intervention or control group. The study was conducted in low socio-economic-status districts in Bremen, Germany. 423 elderly participated at baseline and 369 after 3 months intervention. Face-to-face interviews (24-h recall and frequency questionnaire) were conducted at T0 and T1. χ (2)-tests, sign-test and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

No significant differences could be shown when comparing the intervention versus control group at T1. Significant changes from T0 to T1 in the intervention group were identified for daily fruit and vegetable (χ (2)-test, p = 0.04), and for weekly fish consumption (χ (2)-test, p = 0.04). However, similar results could also be shown for the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

A practical counselling aid for elderly was developed and evaluated. Changes in the health behaviour of elderly were identified, but effects could not be clearly traced to the intervention.