This study examined the behaviors relating to the utilization of prescription and over-the-counter medications in a small group of elderly subjects in the 65 years and over age range. This group was attending an Elderhostel at Western Oregon State College during the summer of 1991, when the information was obtained. The objectives of this study were to ascertain specific medication taking behaviors, and whether or not directions were adhered to as prescribed by physicians for this highly educated group, or if their behaviors were similar to those referred to in the literature for all elderly. A sample of 38 elderly was obtained during an Elderhostel Wellness Vacation at Western Oregon State College in Monmouth, Oregon during July, 1991. Subjects completed questionnaires regarding medication-taking behaviors as part of a wellness class session regarding the safe use of medications. Questionnaires were filled out prior to the class discussion. Data were assembled using one survey instrument with questions relating to medication usage. Descriptive statistics using histograms showing frequency distributions were used for data analysis. Sixty-five percent of this group were taking prescription medications and sixty-eight percent of this group were taking over-the-counter medications. Medications were being obtained from more than one physician and more than one pharmacy. The subjects took fewer doses of medications per day and less medication per dose than prescribed. Medications were discontinued prematurely if feeling better or worse. Leftover medications from previous prescriptions were being taken. Outdated or expired medications were being taken. Alcoholic beverages were being used in conjunction with the use of prescription medications. In some cases, prescriptions were not filled because they were considered to be unnecessary. Recommendations for education and future research in the problematic area of drug use in the elderly include: 1) More time spent by health care professionals to educate the elderly in the correct and safe use of medications; 2) Community health promotion programs targeted at the well elderly; 3) Personalized "brown bag" medication counselling sessions; 4) Medication education programs at Elderhostels throughout the country; 5) Education programs through the American Association of Retired Persons; and 6) Further studies of larger groups of well-educated, healthy and active elderly. / Graduation date: 1993

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between health promotion and quality of life in noninstitutionalized older adults. The study was conducted within the framework of Nola Pender's Health Promotion Model.Approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Ball State University for human protection of the participants. Permission from the five churches' boards was obtained. Written assurance of anonymity of subjects was given.This study was descriptive and correlational. Quality oflife was the dependent variable and the independent variables were health promoting behaviors, importance of health, perceived health status, the number of chronic health conditions and any consequent disruption to life, prior involvement in a senior citizens' wellness group or with a health advisor, and demographic variables including age, gender, marital status, living alone or with a companion or family, and education. Volunteer subjects aged 65 and older from five church groups were asked to complete the following questionnaires: Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Quality of Life Index, Value Survey, and a demographic sheet. The demographic questionnaire included an item regarding self-perceived health status, whether or not the participant had been involved in a wellness group or with a health advisor for older adults, and a checklist of chronic health conditions and whether or not these had had debilitating consequences for the participant.Hypotheses included the following: (1) There is no correlation between health promoting behavior and quality of life among older adults. (2) There is no correlation between importance of health and quality of life among older adults. (3) There is no correlation between perceived health status and quality of life among older adults. (4) There is no correlation between the number of chronic health conditions and quality of life among older adults. (5) There is no correlation between disruption brought about by chronic health conditions and quality of life among older adults. (6) There is no significant difference between those older adults who had participated in a senior citizens' wellness group or with a health advisor and those who had not. (7) There are no significant differences in older adult males and females and those who live alone or with family or a companion regarding quality of life. (8) There is no correlation between age and quality of life among older adults. (9) There is no correlation between number of years of education and quality of life among older adults.Statistical significance was found between Quality of Life Index and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile scores (r=0.24, p<0.05) and Quality of Life Index and self-perceived health status scores (r=0.33, p<0.01). Other correlations, t-test, and analyis of variance did not achieve statistical significance. / School of Nursing

This dissertation breaks new ground. It examines the perceptions of older adults towards AIDS prevention. Using the National Health Interview Survey, 1988: AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes Supplement, a modified Health Belief Model is developed. Despite the low number of older adults 55+ with AIDS, some extenuating circumstances increase their risk of AIDS contraction. Older adults have lower levels of knowledge about AIDS, weaker immune systems and receive more blood transfusions. Societal influences include educational neglect at the hands of physicians, healthcare workers and social service personnel. The first stage of the dissertation involved establishing older adults as an at-risk population through an extensive literature review. Next, the data was described utilizing frequencies, correlations and factor analysis. Frequencies clearly indicated that older adults in the data set had low levels of AIDS knowledge and did not view themselves at risk for AIDS contraction. Correlations between the variables were minimal. A modified Health Belief Model was developed and tested. Multiple regression determined that minimal variation in the two dependent variables, "Perceived Effectiveness of Effective Methods to Prevent AIDS Contraction" and "Perceived Effectiveness of Ineffective Methods to Prevent AIDS Contraction" was accounted for by the independent variables. Although F ratios allowed rejection of the two null hypotheses, beta weights were low. Adjusted R^2's accounted for only 21% and 16% respectively of the variation in the dependent variables. Finally, discrepancies in the model were determined and recommendations made for further research. Most health belief models concentrate on individual social-psychological variables. Due to AIDS' societal consequences, it is proposed that societal providers of education: physicians, social service workers and healthcare personnel need to be included in the model. Recommendations were made for additional research into sexual behavior of older adults and exploration of available training of physicians, healthcare and social service professionals. Finally, recommendations were made to provide training and education for both professionals as well as the elderly to prevent their growth into an at-risk population.

Thesis (M.A. (Social Work)) -- Univesity of Limpopo, 2012 / Refer to document

The present investigation assessed Health Belief Model (HBM) variables and a measure of physical activity for both younger and older adults. Results of discriminant analyses suggest HBM variables and physical activity can predict age-group membership with 89% accuracy. The younger sample (n = 88; M= 21.5 years) was significantly more anxious about aging, perceived more barriers to exercise, less control from powerful others, and more social support than the older sample (n = 56; M = 71.8 years). For the younger sample, those who perceived more benefits of exercise, had social support, were male, and were less anxious about aging were more active. For the older sample, those who perceived more benefits of exercise were more likely to be active.

Health beliefs of 221 postmenopausal women were assessed to predict the Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors of breast self-examination (BSE) and utilization of mammography. Champion's (1991) revised Health Belief Model (HBM) instrument for BSE, which assesses the HBM constructs of Seriousness, Susceptibility, Benefits, Barriers, Confidence and Health Motivation, was utilized along with her Barriers and Benefits instrument for mammography usage. Ronis' and Harel's (1989) constructs of Severity-Late and Severity-Early were evaluated along with Cuing and demographic variables. These exogenous latent constructs were utilized in a LISREL path model to predict Breast Cancer Screening Behavior.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 5 stages of change identified in the transtheoretical model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) accurately describe stages of adopting exercise and strength training behaviors among older adults; and to test if the variables of age, gender, education, current level of physical activity, and health problems are accurate measures of predicting stage. Participants included 277 residents of 6 continuing care retirement communities in a midwestern state. A site administered survey instrument used a modified Stages of Change Instrument (Marcus, Selby, Niaura, & Rossi, 1992); the Health Status Inventory (Gorely & Gordon, 1995); and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly° (Washburn, Smith, Jette, & Janney, 1993).The study was the first to test whether the 5 stages could be found for strength training, an exercise type. All 5 stages of change were present in both exercise and strength training behaviors but in differing proportions. Results suggest the need to design different strategies to move persons from one stage to another for strength training and exercise. The majority of participants were consistent exercisers as 52% were in maintenance, the stage where people are exercising regularly and have been for longer than six months. The most promising result found 16% in the maintenance stage for strength training behavior with 53% in contemplation, the stage where people are thinking about beginning.A logistic regression analysis was used to conclude that current level of physical activity and number of health problems have some predictive accuracy for stages to adopt exercise and strength training behaviors. The variables of age, gender, and education were not found to be predictive in this study. / Department of Educational Leadership

Most of the empirical research on later life well-being in Taiwan has focused on demographic, structural factors and resources flow, and tended to ignore the meaning and beliefs older Taiwanese assign to aging and the consequences. In light of dramatic social transformation and the changing nature of elderly support, the empirical test of the values and beliefs about later life and their effects may provide a significant viewpoint in understanding why some older adults in Taiwan are healthier and live longer than others. This project employs a national representative data drawn from the Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan in year 1996 and 1999. Beliefs about aging are conceptualized into several constructs and each is linked to three dimensions of health outcomes: physical health, mental health and mortality. In addition, I tested whether engagement in healthy habits, supportive social relationships, and greater involvement in social activities account for the associations. Results suggest that general higher levels of positive beliefs about aging are predictive of improved health and longevity over time. When I divide general beliefs into positive and negative domains, I find that positive beliefs improve health largely through life style factors. While, compared to positive beliefs, negative beliefs seem to exert stronger effects on health through pathways well beyond an individual's lifestyle. That is, pessimistic views on aging may be more detrimental to health because domains related to negative beliefs (e.g., "boredom and uselessness" and "financial insecurity") directly challenge an individual's desires to search for a sense of meaning, purpose and security later in life. Taken together, this study shows that positive beliefs about aging shape proactive behaviors and translate limited resources into opportunities, eventually leading to better health outcomes. In contrast, viewing aging in an unfavorable way may limit an individual's pursuit for a better life, and, in turn, impact health and well-being, regardless the actual resources possessed by the individuals. Therefore, this study suggests despite physically intact, generally active, and supportive relationships, the individual's subjective perception of aging is another important determinant in securing a healthy later life among elderly Taiwanese. / text

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing handel oor ouderdom en geslag as veranderlikes in die salutogenese paradigma. Die salutogenese paradigma het sy ontstaan en ontwikkeling aan verskeie navorsingsperspektiewe te danke. Daar is reeds op internasionale gebied breedvoerig navorsing oor hierdie paradigma gedoen. In die Suid-Afrika is die navorsing van Strumpfer en Wissing goed bekend. In hierdie navorsing is daar deur middel van faktorontleding gepoog om die onderliggende dimensies van die konstrukte gevoel van koherensie en geharde persoonlikheid bloot te le. Daar is onderskeidelik twee duidelike faktore vir beide konstrukte bepaal. Die faktore op die Lewensorientasievraelys (OLQ) het noue ooreenstemming getoon met die komponente betekenisvolheid en hanteerbaarheid (OLQ1 ), en verstaanbaarheid (OLQ2) soos deur Antonovsky (1987) bespreek. Die faktore op die "Personal Views Survey" (PVS) het ooreenstemming getoon met die komponente verbintenis en beheer (PVS1) en uitdaging (PVS2), soos deur Kobasa (1979) daargestel. Hierdie navorsingsresultate toon verder dat ouderdom wel die mate van gevoel van koherensie wat 'n individu mag ervaar, kan be"invloed. Alhoewel geslag in 'n mindere mate 'n invloed op die mate van gevoel van koherensie getoon het, behoort geslag (in perspektief van die totale steekproef beskou) nie 'n bepalende invloed uit te oefen nie. In terme van die mate van geharde persoonlikheid wat 'n individu mag ervaar, het ouderdom en geslag geen invloed getoon nie. Daar is ook geen interaksie-effek tussen ouderdom en geslag en die onderskeie konstrukte vasgestel nie. / This research project deals with age and gender as variables in the salutogenesis paradigm. The salutogenesis paradigm owes its origin and development to various research projects. Research in the international field has already been done on this paradigm on a wide sphere. The research of Strumpfer and Wissing is well known in South Africa. In this area of research an attempt is made through the analysis of factors to expose the underlying dimensions of the construct sense of coherence and the construct hardy personality. Two certain factors for both constructs have been indicated. The factors influencing the Orientation to Life Questionnaire indicated a close resemblance with the components of meaningfulness and manageability (OLQ1), and comprehensibility (OLQ2), discussed by Antonovsky (1987). The factors of the Personal Views Survey (PVS) demonstrated a similarity with the components commitment and control (PVS 1) and challenge (PVS2), as stated by Kobasa (1979). The results of this research demonstrates that age may well influence the measure of the sense of coherence which an individual may experience. Although gender indicated a minor measure of influence on the degree of sense of coherence, gender should not (in perspective of this research findings) have a deciding influence. Age and gender indicated no deciding influence in the measure of hardy personality experienced by an individual. Age and gender did not manifest any interaction in the various constructs. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Bedryfsielkunde)

The point of concentration for this study was to estimate the extent to which health-promoting habits might predict medication-compliant practices among older adults. The purpose was to recognize potentially non-adhering persons, identify attitudes leading to healthy habits, and signal any practices contributing to non-compliant behaviors. Selected were patients who ranged in age from minimum 62, lived independently, self-administered medication regimes, had a chronic ailment that had persisted for at least 12 months, and regularly attended a geriatric clinic sited in the midwestern United States. A non-probability convenience sample (n = 100) was analyzed by a descriptive correlational approach to test self-proclaimed relations between health habits and compliant practices. The instrument used to measure health habits that would enrich life was the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II created and promoted by Walker, Sechrist, and Pender (1995). The tool used to decide levels of medication adherence was a compliance profile created specifically for this study. Demographic information was collected for age, race, marital status, gender, and education. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was utilized to decide what, if any, real and measurable interrelationships exist between the health-promoting habits and medication-compliant practices among an older population. The t-test was utilized in determining differences in both healthpromoting lifestyle habits and medication-compliant practices between older males and females. The significance level used to evaluate every theory was p < .05. Discovery gave no statistically critical relationship between overall health-promoting lifestyle habits and medication-compliant practices among the constituents of an older populace. Findings gave no significant variance between men and women in either lifestyle habits or compliance practices as a whole, but the HPLP II categories of Interpersonal Relations and Nutrition did mirror a significant difference between genders. / Department of Physiology and Health Science