The document summarizes a study that evaluated changes in quality of life and physical performance among elderly participants in a gerontological rehabilitation program. The study involved 480 elderly participants with reduced functional capacity who underwent physical and psycho-social rehabilitation. Quality of life, physical functioning, pain levels, and other factors were measured at baseline and 6 and 12 month follow-ups. The results indicated that the quality of life of 63-72% of participants was maintained or improved, physical performance was maintained or improved for 73% of participants, and the severity of pain decreased for most participants over the course of the rehabilitation program.

1. CHANGES IN QUALITY OF LIFE AND PHYSICAL
PERFORMANCE AMONG THE ELDERLY
PARTICIPATING IN MULTI-ACTUATOR
GERONTOLOGICAL REHABILITATION
Minna-Liisa Luoma, Susanna Mukkila, Mariitta Vaara , Monica Röberg
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3. Quality of life and functional capacity among
elderly participating in rehabilitation
intervention (IKKU) 2009-2013
• Gerontological rehabilitation intervention study
(includes physical and psycho-social rehabilitation)
• Participants (N=480) has lowered functional
capacity and suffer from musculoskeletal diseases
• Measures: Quality of life, Physical functioning
capacity tests, psychological functioning, cognitive
functioning and self evaluated functional capacity.
• Compare the baseline results with 6 and 12 months
follow-up & with Finnish general population
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4. The co-operative rehabilitation for aged
rehabilitees
• Targeted to elderly whose coping at home was
threatened because of decreasing functional
capacity.
• Intended to maintain functioning and enhance the
independence, meaningful living of older inhabitants
in home settings and their participation in society.
• Central aim was promoting quality of life (QoL) and
functional capacity.
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5. Aims of the study
to evaluate changes over time in
• quality of life,
• functional capacity and
• pain
among the participants of a rehabilitation
intervention.
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7. Methods
• WHO QOL-BREF to assess quality of life
• Short Physical Performance Battery index to assess
physical performance
• Visual analog scale to assess pain
• QoL, physical performance and pain were
measured at baseline, at 6 and 12 months.
• T- Test were used
• A significance level p< = 0.05 was set a priori for all
analyses
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9. Results
• The quality of life of 63-72 % of the participants was
maintained the same or increased in 6 and 12
months, depending on QOL domain.
• Physical performance was maintained or increased
for 73 % of participants.
• The severity of pain decreased and the proportion of
participants who were suffering severe or moderate
pain decreased
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10. QoL: Physical functioning
70,00
68,00
66,00
64,00 **
62,00 ** **
60,00 Mean PF BL
58,00 Mean PF 6 m.
56,00 Mean PF12 m.
54,00
52,00
50,00
74-99 74-79 80-84 85+
n=319 n=183 n=102 n=34
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11. QoL: Emotional functionig
70,00
68,00
66,00 * *
64,00 *
62,00
60,00 Mean EF BL
58,00 Mean EF 6 m.
56,00 Mean EF 12 m.
54,00
52,00
50,00
74-99 n= 74-79 80-84 85+
317 n=181 n=102 n=34
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12. QoL: Social Functioning
80,00
75,00
70,00 * * **
65,00 Mean SF BL
Mean SF 6 m.
60,00
Mean SF 12 m.
55,00
50,00
74-99 74-79 80-84 85+
n=318 n=183 n=101 n=34
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13. QoL: Environment
74,00
72,00 * *
70,00
68,00 Mean Env. BL
66,00 Mean Env.6 m.
64,00 Mean Env. 12 m.
62,00
60,00
74-99 74-79 80-84 85+
n=319 n=183 n=102 n=34
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14. Physical functioning SPPB
9,20
9,00 * * ** *
8,80
8,60
8,40 Mean SPPB BL
8,20
Mean SPPB 6kk
8,00
Mean SPPB 12 kk
7,80
7,60
7,40
74-99 74-79 80-84 85+
n=396 n=177 n=89 n=30
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15. Pain: Visual analog scale
45,00
43,00
41,00
39,00 ** **
37,00
35,00
* VAS BL
33,00 VAS 6 m.
31,00 VAS 12m
29,00
27,00
25,00
74-99 74-79 80-84 85+
n=316 n=184 n=96 n=36
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16. Conclusions
Results indicate that the elderly participating
in rehabilitation intervention benefit from
gerontological rehabilitation in terms of QOL
and Physical performance.
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17. Thank you for your attention!
minna-liisa.luoma@thl.fi
Acknowledgement
This work has been financially supported by the Social Insurance
Institution of Finland
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