| Abstrakt: |
A two-year follow-up evaluation was conducted on participants of a health promotion program for the elderly and their matched comparison group to investigate the long-term outcome effectiveness on health behavior, information, risk, status, and service utilization. Subjects from the first study were mailed a shortened version of the original questionnaire. Analyses revealed long-term program effectiveness in sustaining, above pretest levels, participant improvements in lifestyle habits and health information achieved at posttest and six months. The data, however, clearly showed these program benefits to have declined from the six-month follow-up. Positive posttest and six-month follow-up program effects related to mental health, responsibility for health, and risk to heart attack and stroke were not shown to have been sustained at long term. Health service utilization behavior and health status at long term also were not found to be significantly changed from pretest. Decreased involvement in health promotion classes and premature long-term evaluation are offered as partial explanations of these results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
