[The effects of a health promotion program for elderly]

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and to evaluate a health promotion program for elderly.

Method: Subjects were 63 elderly women (experimental group: 33, control group: 30). The study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The data was analyzed with an SPSS Window program, then the data was computed for the purpose of each study.

Result: 1. In designing the program, the experimental group was given health education--2 times per week, for 8 weeks--and they participated in recreation programs and stretching exercises five times a week. 2. Stretching exercises including health education, significantly affected the total Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, health behavior and self-efficacy. 3. The body fat weight was not significantly affected by the stretching exercises.

Conclusion: This program was tested to promote the health of elderly and verified as an effective nursing intervention program, because the outcome of this program ascertains that this program enhances self efficacy of exercise, reduces Cholesterol and triglyceride levels' increases HDL-cholesterol, and helps promote the understanding of heath behavior.