Medical self-care education for elders: a controlled trial to evaluate impact.

We conducted a trial to evaluate the impact of medical self-care education on 330 elders whose average age was 71. The test group participated in a 13-session educational intervention with training in clinical medicine, life-style, and use of health services. The comparison group received a two-hour lecture-demonstration. Both groups were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one year after entry. The results indicate medical self-care instruction: produces substantial improvements, that were sustained for one year, in health knowledge, skills performance, and skills confidence; stimulates many attempts to improve life-style; and generates improvements in life quality. The program had little influence on utilization of medical care or health status.