Background: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among Chinese adults in Hong Kong and ignorance and confusion about vitamin D is common throughout the Hong Kong population. Health literacy is a crucial factor that influences the health actions and outcomes of individuals; however, little is known about the relationship between health literacy and behavior of supplementing vitamin D through sunlight exposure. Objective: The aim of the current study was to identify the factors associated with the health literacy of Chinese older adults and to investigate the relationship between health literacy and the behavior of supplementing vitamin D through sunlight exposure. Method: From May 2011 to January 2012, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among cognitively intact Chinese adults aged 60 or above. Recruitment of participants was through 23 residential care homes and 7 elderly community centers. A questionnaire elicited demographic and health literacy information and explored their knowledge about vitamin D, their attitude towards sunlight exposure, and their behavior related to sunlight exposure. Linear regression identified the factors associated with the health literacy among Chinese older adults. Path analysis investigated the relationship between health literacy and the behavior of participants regarding sunlight exposure. Results: Participants and analysis included 648 Chinese adults. Among the population, respondents identified as having inadequate health literacy numbered 52.5%. Five factors, including age, marital status, educational attainment, residential status, and duration of living in residential care homes, had significant association with health literacy. In addition, health literacy had a direct relationship to respondents’ exposure to sunlight (direct effect = .075) and an indirect relationship through their knowledge about vitamin D and their attitude towards sunlight exposure (indirect effect = .015). However, knowledge about vitamin D and attitude towards sunlight exposure did not mediate the association between health literacy and behaviors concerning sunlight exposure. Discussion and Conclusion: The results of this study showed that not only age, marital status, and educational attainment affected health literacy but also residential status and duration of living in residential care homes offered an effect. The study revealed that health literacy had both a direct and indirect relationship to health behavior (e.g., supplementing vitamin D through sunlight exposure). Health care professionals should note the relationship between health literacy and health behavior. Health education intervention about vitamin D supplement should focus training on individuals’ health literacy rather than their knowledge about vitamin D or attitude towards sunlight exposure. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Philosophy

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published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

No description available.

In order to increase the number of older adults physically active enough to obtain the health benefits of exercise, inactive individuals must firstly be identified, and attention must then be focused on determinants of exercise amenable to change. This study set out to develop self-complete questionnaires for assessing activity status, and perceived benefits of, and barriers to, physical activity. Of 1456 questionnaires sent out to a random sample of adults aged 55-74 a usable return rate of 37.6% (n=548) was achieved. A principal components analysis of the benefits of physical activity revealed five factors (physical performance, social, weight control, enjoyment, and psychological), and of the barriers to physical activity, also five factors (opportunities, physical exertion, time, limiting health, and support). Alpha internal consistency coefficients for the 10 factors ranged from 0.64 to 0.92, and test-retest reliability coefficients from 0.56 to 0.87. A series of one-way ANOVAs revealed that, with the exception of the benefit weight control, there was a significant gradation in factor scores between active and inactive subjects as classified by 4-, 9-, and 5- point activity classification methods. Validity of the activity classifications was assessed in a subsample of 86 subjects against measures of strength, flexibility, aerobic fitness and objectively measured physical activity. Active and inactive subjects classified using the 4- and 9-point questionnaires differed significantly in 1-mile walk time and energy expenditure estimated by a Caltrac accelerometer. The 5-point questionnaire did not appear able to differentiate active and inactive subjects. Test-retest reliability of the questionnaires ranged from 0.62 to 0.73. The questionnaire developed from this work for measuring perceived benefits and barriers of older adults can be used in either practical or research settings. Further work is required to determine the accuracy of the physical activity questionnaires in identifying low-active individuals in the population.

Society's dramatically mounting population of Seniors is creating a demand to increase our knowledge of senior health program participation and of what promotes 'Healthy Aging'. This thesis is concerned with factors that affect seniors' participation in health promoting programs. There are two distinct aspects to this study, one is an experiment and the other is a survey. The experiment component of the thesis predicts that potential program participants' giving advice on a projected program topic, more than giving information will increase self-esteem, internal locus of control and thus program participation. The survey aspect of the thesis is designed to discover other factors which affect participation and health concerns. The project deals with psychological constructs such as locus of control, self-esteem and life satisfaction put to the use of social work concerns such as increasing program participation, health awareness and resource use. One hundred and twenty persons aged 60-75 were randomly selected from the files of Matsqui-Abbotsford Community Services and randomly assigned to 3 groups of 40 persons each. Group 1 & 2 were administered Wallston & Wallston & DeVallis' Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales and Rosenbergs’Self-Esteem Scale before and after the two experimental interventions of giving advice or information on the same health topics. Both groups also responded to Diener & Emmons & Larsen & Griffin's Life Satisfaction Scale, Chapin's Organizational Participation Scale and some questions about family, friends, smoking, health and demographics. Group 3, the control group, was not interviewed. After regular intervals all groups were invited to participate in three progressively involving 'Healthy Aging' pursuits. Statistical analysis does not support the hypothesis that giving advice increases self-esteem, life satisfaction, participation or 'internality' of health locus of control. Participation in formal organizations correlates with other forms of sociability and knowledge about prevention, while smoking co-relates positively with social isolation. Health internality is associated with greater self-reported health, life satisfaction, more contact with family and not associated with sociability outside of the home. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to identify the mental health services available to the elderly residents of Oregon, and to assess the effectiveness of these services in providing mental health treatment to elderly persons. In order to reasonably narrow the scope of this study, the investigation of mental health services was limited primarily to those agencies which are publicly funded and controlled by state or local bodies. In addition, Multnomah County was selected as a case study area in order to further narrow the scope of the study. Multnomah County was selected because of the convenience of its geographical location for this researcher and Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) personnel, but more importantly, because Multnomah County is one of the most urbanized areas of the state, with a large number of mental health services geographically accessible to its elderly residents. Additionally, this county contains approximately 31% of all elderly residents in Oregon.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health