Effects of a multicomponent physical exercise programme on perceived health-related quality of life and on depressive symptoms in older adults living in long-term nursing homes.
Maider Ugartemendia-Yerobi, Maider Kortajarena, Udane Elordi and 4 others
PMID 36860716WHAT IT FOUND
A 12-week exercise program did not improve overall quality of life or depression in nursing home residents.
Only one emotional role score changed within the exercise group, with no difference between groups.
Key findings
01No benefits were obtained in health-related quality of life or depressive symptoms for older adults living in long-term nursing homes.
02The three-month multicomponent exercise program was viable and well tolerated in older adults from long-term nursing homes.
03The intervention group showed a significant increase in the role-emotional score of the SF-36, but the comparison between groups did not reach statistical significance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small, which reduces the statistical power to detect significant differences. The study was quasi-experimental, meaning participants were not randomly assigned in a way that guarantees equivalent groups, though they were divided into intervention and control. The results cannot be generalized to residents with severe cognitive deficits or low physical function, as these individuals were excluded. The lack of significant findings may be due to the small sample size rather than the intervention being ineffective.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. Open Access funding was provided by the University of the Basque Country.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that exercise is ineffective for nursing home residents. The study was underpowered due to a small sample size, and the lack of significant difference between groups does not prove the intervention had no effect, only that this study could not demonstrate one.