Lifestyle Matters Study, 2011-2015

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.Background: Healthy, active ageing is strongly associated with good mental wellbeing which in turn helps to prevent mental illness. However, more investment has been made into research into interventions to prevent mental illness than into those designed to improve mental wellbeing. This applied research programme provided high quality evidence for an intervention designed to improve and sustain mental wellbeing in older adults. Methods/Design: This study was a multi-centre, pragmatic, two-arm, parallel group, individually randomised controlled trial to determine the population benefit of an occupational therapy based intervention for community living people aged 65 years or older. Participants (n = 268) were identified in one city in the North of England and in North Wales through GP mail-outs, signposting by local authority, primary care staff and voluntary sector organisations and through community engagement. Participants were randomised to one of two treatment arms: an intervention (Lifestyle Matters programme); or control (routine access to health and social care). All participants were assessed at baseline, 6 and 24 months post-randomisation. The primary outcome was the SF-36 Mental Health dimension at six months post randomisation. Secondary outcome measures were selected to measure psychosocial, physical and mental health outcomes. They included other dimensions of the SF36, EQ-5D-3L, Brief Resilience Scale, General Perceived Self Efficacy Scale, PHQ-9, de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Health and Social Care Resource Use and the wellbeing question of the Integrated Household Survey 2011. A cost effectiveness analysis investigated the incremental cost per Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) of the Lifestyle Matters intervention compared with treatment as usual. Further information can be found on the Sheffield University Lifestyle Matters webpage. Main Topics:Topics covered include the health and wellbeing issues of adults aged 65 and over who volunteered to participate in the Lifestyle Matters study, half of which were randomly allocated to receive the Lifestyle Matters intervention, and half of which were randomised to receive usual care