Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2023 Sep 24. doi: 10.1111/ggi.14673. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of virtual supervision and minimal supervision in a 12-week home-based physical exercise program on the mental health and quality of life of community-dwelling older adults.
METHODS: This study presents a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample comprised 38 elderly men and women (81.6% women, mean age 68 ± 6.4 years; mean weight 69.8 ± 12.1 km) without physical and/or cognitive impairments. The volunteers were divided into two groups: one group received virtual supervision (monitored via videoconference), while the other group received minimal supervision (monitored through weekly text messages). Both groups followed the same home-based physical exercise program, consisting of three sessions per week, differing only in the supervision strategy. Mental health was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in conjunction with the POMS questionnaire, which evaluates mood, and quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire.
RESULTS: Our findings demonstrated statistically significant superiority of virtual supervision compared with minimal supervision in relation to depression (-2.92, 95% confidence interval = -5.22 to -0.63). Conversely, minimal supervision exhibited superiority over virtual supervision regarding quality of life (-6.70, 95% confidence interval = -11.66 to -1.73).
CONCLUSIONS: Virtual supervision yielded better outcomes for the depression indicator, while minimal supervision favored the quality of life of older adults at the conclusion of the 12-week home-based physical exercise program. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; ••: ••-••.
PMID:37743056 | DOI:10.1111/ggi.14673