Variables
|
Intervention
(n= 54)
|
Control
(n= 54)
|
Pvalue
|
---|
|
Mean (SD)
|
Perc. (n)
|
Mean (SD)
|
Perc. (n)
| |
Older participants
| | | | | |
Age, years
|
79.8 (6.4)
| |
80.6 (7.1)
| |
0.543
|
Sex: female
| |
63 (34)
| |
69 (37)
|
0.543
|
Living alone
| |
50 (27)
| |
44 (24)
|
0.780
|
Education, years
|
8.8 (5)
| |
8.5 (4.4)
| |
0.698
|
BADL scorea
|
4.6 (1.6)
| |
4.4 (1.5)
| |
0.623
|
IADL scoreb
|
4.6 (2.9)
| |
4.3 (2.7)
| |
0.495
|
Dependence in taking medications
| |
35 (19)
| |
44 (24)
|
0.326
|
CIRS m scorec
|
4.2 (1.8)
| |
4.1 (1.6)
| |
0.610
|
CIRS s scored
|
1.9 (0.5)
| |
1.9 (0.3)
| |
0.543
|
MMSE scoree
|
24.1 (6.3)
| |
23.7 (6.3)
| |
0.726
|
5-item GDS scoref
|
2.4 (1.3)
| |
2.0 (1.3)
| |
0.162
|
Cornell scale scoreg
|
13.4 (5.2)
| |
15.0 (5.1)
| |
0.344
|
MNA SF scoreh
|
10.4 (2.1)
| |
9.7 (2.4)
| |
0.132
|
Drugs daily, n
|
5.5 (2.6)
| |
5.4 (2.6)
| |
0.854
|
Drug administrations daily, n
|
6.7 (3.6)
| |
6.4 (3.1)
| |
0.668
|
Any adherence errori
| |
70 (38)
| |
67 (36)
|
0.679
|
Any intentional adherence error
| |
41 (22)
| |
41 (22)
|
1.000
|
Therapy suspended
| |
33 (18)
| |
26 (14)
|
0.399
|
Therapy never taken
| |
11 (6)
| |
19 (10)
|
0.417†
|
Therapy never stopped
| |
2 (1)
| |
13 (7)
|
0.060†
|
Any unintentional adherence error
| |
52 (28)
| |
37 (20)
|
0.121
|
Caregivers
|
(n = 19)
|
(n = 24)
| |
Age, years
|
62.8 (16)
| |
58.1 (18.9)
| |
0.380
|
Education, years
|
7.5 (3.3)
| |
7.6 (3.8)
| |
0.955
|
CBI scorel
|
35.2 (22.1)
| |
37.1 (20.9)
| |
0.766
|
-
† Statistical analysis was performed by using Fisher's exact test.
-
a BADL = Basic Activities of Daily Living; normal score 6/6. Lower scores indicate worse functional status.
-
b IADL = Instrumental Acitivities of Daily Living; normal score 8/8. Lower scores indicate worse functional status.
-
c CIRS m = Cumulative Illness Rating Scale morbidity. Score range 0-13; lower scores indicate lower morbidity.
-
d CIRS s = Cumulative Illness Rating Scale severity. Score range 1-5; lower scores indicate less severe multiple pathology.
-
e MMSE = Mini Mental State Examination. Score range 0-30. Scores are corrected for age and education. Lower scores indicate worse cognitive function.
-
f GDS = Geriatric Depression Scale. Score range 0-5. Higher scores indicate worse emotional status. This variable was analysed only in the 68 participants (34 per group) without cognitive impairment.
-
g Score range 0-38, higher scores indicate worse emotional status. This variable was analysed only in the 40 participants (20 per group) suffering from cognitive impairment (i.e. MMSE score < 24 out of 30 after correction for age and education).
-
h MNA SF = Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form. Score range 0-14. Lower scores indicate higher risk of malnutrition.
-
i The sum of any intentional and any unintentional errors is over 100% because we found both kinds of errors in 18 cases: 12 cases belonging to the intervention group and 6 cases belonging to the control group.
-
l CBI = Caregiver Burden Inventory. Score range 0-96, higher scores indicate greater distress of the caregiver.