Development and effects of a customized integrated health management program for older adults living alone: A nonequivalent control-group pre-posttest design

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a customized integrated health-management program (CIHMP) for socially isolated older adults living alone and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: We used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 49 older adults living alone (experimental group: 24, control group: 25). The experimental group participated in a CIHMP 10-week program that included the following components: greeting phone calls, individual health counseling by phone, health education, laughter therapy, pottery activities, and physical exercise. The control group continued their usual isolated daily living. We analyzed data using the independent t-test and Mann–Whitney U test with SPSS/Win version 24.0. Results: Significant differences emerged between groups in right-hand grip strength (t=-2.22, p=.031), short physical-performance battery (z=-5.57, p<.001), self-esteem (t=-3.54, p=.001), depression (z=-3.30, p=.001), and health-management self-efficacy (t=2.43, p=.019). Conclusion: Findings indicated that the CIHMP was effective in improving physical function, self-esteem, depression, and health management self-efficacy among older adults living alone. Therefore, the CIHMP may be a useful community-based intervention for this population.