Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred- Herrhausen-Strasse 50, 58448, Witten, Germany.
Department of Family Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum Medical School, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
BMC Geriatr. 2023 Jun 1;23(1):343. doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-04044-4.
Regular physical activity improves physical health and mental well-being and reduces the risk of falling in older adults. The randomized controlled "Prevention by lay-assisted Outdoor-Walking in the Elderly at Risk" POWER-study investigates whether volunteer-supported outdoor-walking improves physical function and quality of life in older people living independently or in nursing homes. This sub-study explores the experiences of older participants and volunteers in relation to their physical and psychosocial well-being as well as the challenges faced by both groups. A further aim was to explore volunteers' experience with people living in nursing homes during the first pandemic lockdown (spring 2020).
The sub-study was designed as mixed-methods approach consisting of 11 individual semi-structured guide-based interviews (nursing home residents), two focus group interviews (volunteers), and a cross-sectional questionnaire survey (volunteers). The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by content analysis as described by Kuckartz. Topics addressed in the interviews were triangulated by means of a questionnaire. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Participants' evaluation of the intervention was generally positive. Nursing home residents appreciated the social interaction associated with the assisted walking, which motivated them to take part regularly, provided a sense of safety, and caused pleasure on both sides. The impact on physical health status of the nursing home residents of this sub-study varied to a large degree as reported in interviews: in some cases, an improvement in physical performance, a decrease in physical complaints, and an improvement in gait or independence was reported. If not, reference was made to previous or sudden illnesses and the advanced age of the participants. Despite the COVID-19-lockdown and the associated restrictions, about 60% of contacts were still possible and participants planned to continue the assisted walks after the lockdown.
Volunteers have a positive effect on the quality of life, mobility, and general health of nursing home residents. Even more than the improvement of physical performance, social interaction was seen as helpful. Despite their advanced age, the nursing home residents were curious and open to new contacts. When removing the identified barriers, it might be possible to integrate this program into the long-term everyday life of nursing homes.
DRKS-ID: DRKS00015188, date of registration: 31.08.2018.
有规律的身体活动可以改善身体健康和心理健康，降低老年人摔倒的风险。这项随机对照的“由非专业人员辅助的老年人户外步行预防”（POWER）研究旨在探讨志愿者支持的户外步行是否可以改善独立生活或居住在养老院的老年人的身体功能和生活质量。这项子研究探讨了老年人参与者和志愿者在身体和心理社会福祉方面的体验，以及他们两个群体所面临的挑战。另一个目的是探索志愿者在 2020 年春季第一次大流行封锁期间与居住在养老院的人相处的经验。
该子研究采用混合方法设计，包括 11 名（养老院居民）基于指南的半结构化访谈、2 次焦点小组访谈（志愿者）和一项（志愿者）横断面问卷调查。访谈进行了录音，逐字转录，并按照 Kuckartz 描述的内容分析法进行了分析。访谈中讨论的主题通过问卷调查进行了三角验证。定量数据采用描述性统计进行分析。
参与者对干预的评价总体上是积极的。养老院居民非常欣赏与辅助行走相关的社交互动，这促使他们定期参加，感到安全，并给双方带来快乐。在接受访谈时，养老院居民报告的身体状况改善程度差异很大：在某些情况下，身体机能得到改善，身体不适减少，步态或独立性得到改善。如果没有，就会提到之前或突发的疾病和参与者的高龄。尽管发生了 COVID-19 封锁和相关限制，仍有大约 60%的接触是可能的，参与者计划在封锁结束后继续进行辅助行走。
志愿者对养老院居民的生活质量、移动能力和整体健康有积极影响。社交互动被视为比身体机能的改善更有帮助。尽管他们年龄较大，但养老院居民对新的接触充满好奇和开放。当消除已确定的障碍时，可能会将该计划纳入养老院的长期日常生活中。
DRKS-ID：DRKS00015188，注册日期：2018 年 8 月 31 日。
