The Effects of a Health Mentoring Program in Community-dwelling Vulnerable Elderly Individuals with Diabetes

Lee

2021

IJERPH

With the increase in the older population, there is a concern for health in older adults. This study aimed to develop a physical exercise program that combined walking and gymnastics for older adults residing in rural areas and to evaluate its effect on their physiological and psychological health and physical function. A quasi-experimental design was adopted. Participants were aged 65 years or older, with 94 and 130 participants in the experimental and control group, respectively. The program was implemented for seven months, from April–October 2016. Walking and gymnastics were performed once a week each, for about 60 and 50 min, respectively. Data were analyzed using the Chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, independent t-test, or Mann–Whitney U test. Results revealed that the experimental group participants displayed improved waist circumference (t = 1.70, p = 0.045), body mass index (U = 4691.00, p = 0.002), depressive symptoms (t = −2.94, p = 0.002), upper limb strength (t = 2.27, p = 0.012), and lower limb strength (t = 3.86, p < 0.001). Therefore, it can be presumed that the physical exercise program was effective and beneficial for older adults living in rural areas. This program is expected to contribute to maintaining and improving their health if implemented regularly in the future.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a Physical Exercise Program on Physiological, Psychological, and Physical Function of Older Adults in Rural Areas

Lee

2021

IJERPH

The Moderating Effect of Social Networks on Health-Promoting Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults

Shin,

Dudley,

Hong

et al. 2024

Sage Open

This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a previous study that consisted of 354 older adults, including 226 living in South Korea and 128 South Korean immigrants living in the United States. The aim of this study was to identify the moderating effects of social networks on health-promoting behaviors among Korean older adults with chronic illnesses. Using moderated mediation analyses, we found that the interaction effect between U.S. residency, the number of chronic illnesses, age, and education level accounted for 25% of the social networks. Our findings highlight the importance of social networks in promoting health behaviors and the need to strengthen social networks to improve the health of Korean older adults with chronic illnesses living in the United States. These results also emphasize the need for distinct approaches to health promotion, as health-promoting behaviors vary based on the number of chronic illnesses and country of residence.

Story Telling Problem Based Learning (ST-PBL): A Program for Rural Elderly with Chronic Diseases

Kong

Jung

Seo

et al. 2022

J Probl Based Learn

Purpose: To measure changes in health knowledge, health attitudes, and health promotion behaviors of the elderly in rural communities after using the Story Telling Problem Based Learning program facilitated by students in a nursing course.Methods: A quasi-experimental study using a non-equivalent control group: 72 students sampled from the nursing discipline were divided into experimental (n=36) and control groups (n=36). The ST-PBL program was provided to the older rural people in the experimental group for six weeks. Results: Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 21.0. After the application of the ST-PBL program, the participants in the experimental group showed a significant increase in health knowledge and health promotion behavior. Conclusion: The participants in the experimental group demonstrated positive changes in health knowledge, health attitudes, and health promotion behaviours. The use of an approach such as the ST-PBL program can promote uptake of self-care behaviors within the elderly with chronic diseases living in rural areas.