Statistical analysis
The data were analysed using the statistical package SPSS 27 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) for Windows. Missing data were handled by using multiple imputation, which involved identifying the missing data and replacing them with multiple plausible values based on the available data to achieve an intention-to-treat analysis. Descriptive statistics were generated for the demographic data. Normality assumptions for the variables were checked. The baseline characteristics of the participants in the three groups were compared using ANOVA for the continuous variables, a chi-square test for the categorical variables, and the Kruskal–Wallis test for the ordinal variables. A generalised estimating equation (GEE) adjusted for age, because a significant difference in age was identified among the three groups, was used to examine the group effect, time effect, and their interaction in the outcome assessments across the three post-tests (immediately [T1], 6 months [T2], and 12 months [T3] after the intervention) among the three groups. As multiple comparisons were carried out (i.e., T0-T1, T0-T2, T0-T3), a 