Exploring the impact of a Frailty Prevention Care Management Program on frailty and health function in community older adults: A quasi-experimental trial protocol

Abstract

Abstract Background Frailty often results from deteriorating muscle strength and decreased physical function in older adults due to physical inactivity, chronic nutritional deficiency, depression, or inadequate support systems. Frailty is a comprehensive, multi-dimensional perspective (includes physical, psychological, and social fragility). Previous research has shown that exercise programs, especially resistance exercises combined with nutritional care, can reduce frailty symptoms. This study describes a quasi-experimental trial to develop a frailty prevention care management program, that prevents frailty and improves frailty, physical activity, and nutrition compared to usual care for community-dwelling older adults.Methods This study employed a quasi-experimental design using convenience sampling with experimental and control groups. A total of 70 community-dwelling older adults were recruited for experimental and control groups. Moreover, participants in the experimental group will receive a 24-week Frailty Prevention Care Management Program of 100 min per session, two sessions per week. In contrast, those in the usual physical activity control group must maintain their original physical activity. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3-month post-intervention. The primary outcome measure was the degree of frailty measured using the Taiwanese version of the Tilburg frailty indicator. Secondary outcomes will include measures of physical activity using the Senior Fitness Test and nutrition measures using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form. A generalised estimating equation was constructed to analyse the effects of the intervention.Results This protocol presents a quasi-experimental design for a convenience sampling trial to evaluate the effectiveness, prevention of frailty, improves of physical activity, and nutrition of the Frailty Prevention Care Management Program.Conclusion If the results are as expected, this trial will provide evidence for the effect of the frailty prevention program on elderly community-based populations.Trial registration: Clinical Trials Register: NCT05883423 (Date of registration: