Frailty Intervention through Nutrition Education and Exercise (FINE). A Health Promotion Intervention to Prevent Frailty and Improve Frailty Status among Pre-Frail Elderly-A Study Protocol of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Nutrients 2020-09, Vol.12 (9), p.2758
• Main Authors: Mohd Suffian, Nurul Izzati, Adznam, Siti Nur 'Asyura, Abu Saad, Hazizi, Chan, Yoke Mun, Ibrahim, Zuriati, Omar, Noraida, Murat, Muhammad Faizal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; Cluster Analysis; community-dwelling; Demography; Diet, Healthy; Education; elderly; exercise; Exercise Therapy - education; Female; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Frailty - prevention & control; Geriatric Assessment; Geriatrics; Health promotion; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Independent Living; Intervention; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; multi-component; Nutrition; Nutrition education; Nutrition Policy; Older people; Population; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Single-Blind Method
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu12092758

The ageing process has been associated with various geriatric issues including frailty. Without early prevention, frailty may cause multiple adverse outcomes. However, it potentially may be reversed with appropriate interventions. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of nutritional education and exercise intervention to prevent frailty among the elderly. A 3-month, single-blind, two-armed, cluster randomized controlled trial of the frailty intervention program among Malaysian pre-frail elderly will be conducted. A minimum of total 60 eligible respondents from 8 clusters (flats) of Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) flats will be recruited and randomized to the intervention and control arm. The intervention group will receive a nutritional education and a low to moderate multi-component exercise program. To date, this is the first intervention study that specifically targets both the degree of frailty and an improvement in the outcomes of frailty using both nutritional education and exercise interventions among Malaysian pre-frail elderly. If the study is shown to be effective, there are major potential benefits to older population in terms of preventing transition to frailty. The findings from this trial will potentially provide valuable evidence and serve as a model for similar future interventions designed for elderly Malaysians in the community.