Comparing the effectiveness of telenursing with in-person follow up on the feeling of loneliness among the elderly in community health centers in Ahvaz in 2017

Introduction: With growing number of the elderly population, feeling of loneliness as an effective factor on health and quality of life of them, requires a greater amount of attention. Meanwhile, follow-up with the purpose of establishing a continuous, dynamic caring relationship, play an important role in raising awareness and strengthening the performance of the elderly. This study was conducted to compare the effect of telephone follow-up (telenursing) with in-person follow-up on the feeling of loneliness in the elderly in community health centers in Ahvaz in 2017. Method: This semi-experimental study was implemented on 60 elderly people (60-75 yrs) in Ahvaz Health Centers. The sample was selected using systematic randomized sampling method. All 60 samples received a three-session training program in 3 weeks. In two months, the group receiving telenursing had six appointments while the group receiving in-person follow up had two. Data was collected using demographic questionnaires, short cognitive status test and Revised Russell's Loneliness Scale. The data was analyzed with SPSS software (version 20). P-values less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Average loneliness score was 38.03 and 34.2 in the group receiving telenursing and 35.9 and 32.6 in the group receiving in-person follow up before and after intervention, respectively. Both in the in-person follow up group (p = 0.001) and the telenursing group (p = 0.002), loneliness decreased following the intervention. Conclusion: The results showed that there was a decline in feeling of loneliness in the two groups. Therefore, both follow-up methods are suggested for the elderly population.