New tool measures motivation in older persons


The Getting-Out-of-Bed (GoB) measure gauges how people in retirement living conditions feel about the future.


Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) studied the GoB measure and their findings were published in the October issue of the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology.


"Motivation and life outlook play an important part in an older adult's ability to recover from illness or disabling events and to maintain and/or adopt health-promoting behaviors," said Dr Kerri Clough-Gorr of BUSM.


New tool measures motivation in older persons


The researchers interviewed 660 seniors over the phone. All of these elderly people were women with breast cancer. Outlook on life was assessed by a series of GoB questions, and people with scores of 50 or higher were found more likely to be in an active living situation and have a better quality of life in six months than individuals whose results were lower.


"The GoB may help target adequate interventions to bolster motivation and thus improve health behaviors and outcomes in older adults," said the doctor. The study was funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute.


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