University of Adelaide researchers are preparing for the third phase of an Australian-first study where residents from the City of Charles Sturt will test an online behaviour change tool designed to help prevent frailty in older people.
The AVOID Frailty web intervention was initially developed in Canada, and is being trialled in Adelaide thanks to a $250,000 grant from The Hospital Research Foundation Group. Earlier phases of the University of Adelaide project focused on how to adapt it to a local context.
"Frailty is a vulnerability to health stressors and is associated with hospitalisation and loss of independence, but it can be avoided," said Professor Renuka Visvanathan, a Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University's Geriatrics Training and Research with Aged Care (GTRAC) Centre and Head of Unit of Geriatric Medicine at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"It is very exciting to be testing this technology-enabled intervention for the first time outside of Canada."
The AVOID Frailty web intervention is based on the idea that physical Activity, Vaccination, Optimised medications, social Interaction and a healthy Diet (AVOID) can meaningfully contribute to the prevention of frailty and better health in older age.
"Through the AVOID Frailty intervention, people will have access to education resources and a library of community resources for six months. They will be better empowered to act, make a change, adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours and monitor for improvement to their health," Professor Visvanathan said.
In bringing the intervention from Canada to Australia, the intervention has been adapted for use in South Australia in the initial phases of this University of Adelaide project with input from citizen scientists living in the City of Charles Sturt.
"The input from our citizens in Phase 1 and 2 of this study was hugely important and has helped us ensure that the intervention is a better fit for our local context," said Dr Joanne Dollard, a research fellow at the University of Adelaide who is contributing to the project.
Professor Visvanathan said the third phase of the study is crucial.
"We are looking to recruit 60 new participants who are not frail to help us investigate if the intervention improves their health scores," said Professor Visvanathan.
"As this study involves the use of a web portal, participants must have regular access to, and be able to use, the computer.
"Participants will be randomised either to usual care or have access to the intervention for six months; all participants will need to be willing to complete surveys at the start, middle and end of the trial".
Margaret Evans, of West Lakes, participated in an early stage of the study and said it gave her an incentive to be more active.
"I had experienced some falls during the past few years and felt that I was not moving enough. At 76, if you don't move it, you lose it," she said.
"Being part of the study motivated me to join weekly exercise classes, particularly concentrating on my balance, and I would be keen to do another class if the time and availability suited.
"I also joined a line dancing group and participate in that for one and a half hours weekly, which is great fun and good exercise."
The project is a collaboration between the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, City of Charles Sturt, Adelaide Primary Health Network and Canadian Frailty Network, with funding from The Hospital Research Foundation Group.
