RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in promoting the well-being of independently living older people: results of the Well Elderly 2 Randomised Controlled Trial JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO J Epidemiol Community Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 782 OP 790 DO 10.1136/jech.2009.099754 VO 66 IS 9 A1 Clark, Florence A1 Jackson, Jeanne A1 Carlson, Mike A1 Chou, Chih-Ping A1 Cherry, Barbara J A1 Jordan-Marsh, Maryalice A1 Knight, Bob G A1 Mandel, Deborah A1 Blanchard, Jeanine A1 Granger, Douglas A A1 Wilcox, Rand R A1 Lai, Mei Ying A1 White, Brett A1 Hay, Joel A1 Lam, Claudia A1 Marterella, Abbey A1 Azen, Stanley P YR 2012 UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/66/9/782.abstract AB Background Older people are at risk for health decline and loss of independence. Lifestyle interventions offer potential for reducing such negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a preventive lifestyle-based occupational therapy intervention, administered in a variety of community-based sites, in improving mental and physical well-being and cognitive functioning in ethnically diverse older people.Methods A randomised controlled trial was conducted comparing an occupational therapy intervention and a no-treatment control condition over a 6-month experimental phase. Participants included 460 men and women aged 60–95 years (mean age 74.9±7.7 years; 53% <$12 000 annual income) recruited from 21 sites in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.Results Intervention participants, relative to untreated controls, showed more favourable change scores on indices of bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, mental health, composite mental functioning, life satisfaction and depressive symptomatology (ps<0.05). The intervention group had a significantly greater increment in quality-adjusted life years (p<0.02), which was achieved cost-effectively (US $41 218/UK £24 868 per unit). No intervention effect was found for cognitive functioning outcome measures.Conclusions A lifestyle-oriented occupational therapy intervention has beneficial effects for ethnically diverse older people recruited from a wide array of community settings. Because the intervention is cost-effective and is applicable on a wide-scale basis, it has the potential to help reduce health decline and promote well-being in older people.Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT0078634.