An individualized physical function improvement program for frailty elderly using goal attainment scaling (GAS) as evaluation method: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

TL;DR

This study tests a personalized exercise program for frail elderly people using goal-setting to improve physical function and quality of life.

Contribution

A novel individualized intervention protocol using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) for frailty management in older adults.

Findings

Personalized goals using GAS may improve physical function in frail elderly.

The study will assess long-term effects of individualized interventions over 12 months.

Findings could inform clinical strategies for managing frailty in aging populations.

Abstract

Frailty is the deterioration of physiological functions due to aging, linked to negative outcomes. Frailty, being a reversible and dynamic state, calls for individualized and comprehensive management. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is a personalized method for establishing and assessing progress towards individual goals, suitable for older adults with complex requirements. We focus on attaining personalized intervention goals for elderly patients with frailty, correcting frailty manifestations, maintaining enhanced functional capacity, and cultivating sustainable health awareness, with the goal of improving overall quality of life.

We conducted a randomized clinical trial of an individualized intervention program using GAS as goal setting and evaluation method designed to improve physical functional in frailty elderly. A total of 160 individuals aged ≥ 60 years, who fulfill the Fried scale of frailty will be recruited from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University. All participants set personalized goals through GAS. Patients in the intervention group receive individualized interventions, implement tailored measures based on personalized goals, attain personalized intervention goals to improve or reverse the frailty state. The participants will be followed up for 3 months and 12 months.

The advantage of the present study is the method of intervention. Personalized interventions will implement based on patient-specific needs through individualized goal-setting formulated according to the GAS. If a positive consequence could be obtained, this study’s findings will offer essential information for managing frailty in older adults, applicable in regular clinical settings.

The trials have received ethics approval from the Institutional Review Board for Human Studies of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing, China. The clinical study is supported by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (2024YB53). We declare that the funding agency has independently reviewed the protocol as part of the process of awarding funding. The trial is registered as ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06919575 (Registration Date: 2025-04-02).

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-025-06203-1.

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