The effects of mutual goal-setting practice in older adults with chronic illness

Goal setting is a strategy that can enhance performance. The purpose of this study was to examine how engaging older adults with chronic illness in setting goals for their care would affect their performance in achieving those goals. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with repeated measures to evaluate the effect of an intervention, namely mutual goal-setting (MGS) practice, on elderly patients with chronic illness. Eighty such patients receiving nursing care at home were recruited for the study. Repeated measures showed that the intervention group achieved a higher percentage of their goals, though insignificant group and time interaction effects between groups were found in perceived functional disability, perceived functional health and self-efficacy in self-managing chronic illness. The findings of this study with a specific group, namely elderly patients with chronic illness, support the general premise that patients who participate in determining their care are more likely to improve in physical and mental well-being.