Application of the health belief model for message and program development targeting senior rural health
Abstract
Background: Older adult health is a significant issue when comparing the health of urban and rural communities. Rural areas have fewer resources for secondary and tertiary care, making primary prevention a priority in rural areas. Application of a theory-structured blinded focus group (TBFG) process and nominal group technique (NGT) can address health motivation by developing measurable tailored and targeted messages addressing primary prevention.
Methods: Using nominal group technique which permits larger group sizes and allows blinding of initial results for more open discussion, two focus groups (N=45) were conducted at senior centers in two separate counties at either end of Georgia state health rankings. The process focused on the health belief model (HBM) operationalized using decisional balance. Means and standard deviation of blinded results were evaluated to identify target areas.
Results: Chronic pain (M=7.0; SD=2.54) stood out as a particular health threat. 50% reported scores of 8 or 9 with 3 participants rating depression and risk of suicide as a 9. The largest perceived health threat was high blood pressure (M=7.71; SD=1.86). The highest mean related to benefits of a healthy lifestyle was reducing diabetes risk (M=7.88; SD=2.36). The greatest perceived barrier was too much pain, preventing adoption of healthy actions (M=6.69; SD=2.91). Faith and spirituality were noted in the discussion phase as a potential opportunity for church involvement in developing community health programs.
Conclusion: Initial recommendations include incorporating opportunities for seniors for an evidence-based walking and tai chi for balance program, which have shown benefits for pain, arthritis, diabetes, blood pressure, mental wellness, and fall prevention, among other benefits. Measurable cues-to-action will be presented for motivating program adoption. Future work will address additional findings, including potential church involvement, and unique physiological effects of slower paces of walking and tai chi on targeted health priorities.
Keywords
Older adult health, senior health, health belief model, decisional balance, cues to action, walking, tai chi
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Application of the health belief model for message and program development targeting senior rural health
Background: Older adult health is a significant issue when comparing the health of urban and rural communities. Rural areas have fewer resources for secondary and tertiary care, making primary prevention a priority in rural areas. Application of a theory-structured blinded focus group (TBFG) process and nominal group technique (NGT) can address health motivation by developing measurable tailored and targeted messages addressing primary prevention.
Methods: Using nominal group technique which permits larger group sizes and allows blinding of initial results for more open discussion, two focus groups (N=45) were conducted at senior centers in two separate counties at either end of Georgia state health rankings. The process focused on the health belief model (HBM) operationalized using decisional balance. Means and standard deviation of blinded results were evaluated to identify target areas.
Results: Chronic pain (M=7.0; SD=2.54) stood out as a particular health threat. 50% reported scores of 8 or 9 with 3 participants rating depression and risk of suicide as a 9. The largest perceived health threat was high blood pressure (M=7.71; SD=1.86). The highest mean related to benefits of a healthy lifestyle was reducing diabetes risk (M=7.88; SD=2.36). The greatest perceived barrier was too much pain, preventing adoption of healthy actions (M=6.69; SD=2.91). Faith and spirituality were noted in the discussion phase as a potential opportunity for church involvement in developing community health programs.
Conclusion: Initial recommendations include incorporating opportunities for seniors for an evidence-based walking and tai chi for balance program, which have shown benefits for pain, arthritis, diabetes, blood pressure, mental wellness, and fall prevention, among other benefits. Measurable cues-to-action will be presented for motivating program adoption. Future work will address additional findings, including potential church involvement, and unique physiological effects of slower paces of walking and tai chi on targeted health priorities.
