Older People’s Perception and Experience Regarding Health Promotion in Turkey: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions and experiences of older people regarding health promotion. Using a phenomenological design, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 older people. Data analysis was carried out according to the Colaizzi’s method. The analysis revealed five themes (health-promoting activities, outcome expectations, triggers for activities, supporting factors, perceived obstacles). Older people emphasized healthy eating, walking, avoiding stress, and having health checkups as health-promoting behaviors. It was determined that the older people made efforts to display health-promoting behaviors, but they performed the activities insufficiently. The study findings show that interventions to be developed to improve the health of older people should aim at both cognitive and behavioral changes. Nurses should plan multidisciplinary and community-based interventions to reduce the socioeconomic and environmental factors that prevent older people from participating in health-promoting activities.