Health Literacy-Based Multifactorial Program for Adults With Sarcopenia

Overview

Sarcopenia is a common age-related condition characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and function, which may lead to reduced physical performance, disability, and poorer quality of life. Exercise and nutritional management are considered the primary interventions for preventing and managing sarcopenia; however, successful implementation requires long-term lifestyle modifications. Previous studies have indicated that health literacy among the general population in Taiwan remains insufficient, potentially limiting individuals' ability to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors. Therefore, interventions that improve health literacy may help promote healthy aging and sarcopenia prevention. The purpose of this study is to develop a sarcopenia-specific health literacy questionnaire and to evaluate the effectiveness of a health literacy-based multifactorial intervention among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. A total of 100 participants will be enrolled and assigned to either an intervention group (n=50) or a control group (n=50). The intervention group will participate in six 60-minute sessions consisting of health education and exercise training. Health literacy and other self-reported outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, with follow-up assessments conducted three months later. The study aims to determine whether the intervention can improve participants' health literacy and support the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors related to sarcopenia prevention and management.

This study is a nonrandomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of a health literacy-based multifactorial intervention in middle-aged and older adults with sarcopenia. Participants will be recruited from outpatient rehabilitation referrals at Taipei Medical University Hospital and from the community. A total of 100 participants will be enrolled and assigned to either an intervention group (n=50) or a control group (n=50). Eligible participants are adults aged 40 years or older who are willing to participate in a multifactorial intervention program. Participants will be excluded if they are unable to complete six intervention sessions and follow-up assessments over a 3-month period, have cognitive impairments that prevent them from understanding or completing questionnaires, or have medical conditions that contraindicate participation in physical activity. The intervention consists of six 60-minute sessions delivered over the study period. Each session includes structured health education and exercise training aimed at improving health literacy, enhancing awareness of sarcopenia, and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. The control group will receive usual care without structured intervention. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome is health literacy, measured using a sarcopenia-specific health literacy questionnaire developed in this study. Secondary outcomes may include self-reported health behaviors and related functional indicators. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participant characteristics. Independent t-tests and/or repeated measures analyses will be used to compare changes between groups. A p-value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.