Identification of Health Promotion Practices and Efficacy of a Multi Component Intervention Strategy on the Quality Of Life among Rural Elderly

Abstract

Health Promotion is an essential component in influencing quality of life especially among the elderly. The number of elderly in Indian population has dramatically risen over the past decades. The main aims of the study were to assess the existing health promotion practices among the rural elderly and to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-component intervention strategy on the quality of life of the elderly. The design chosen was Community Randomized Trial where the villages (clusters) were randomized into experiment and control groups. The study was carried out in Kaniyambadi Block of Vellore District. The total sample size was 146 elders of which 73 belonged to each group. Health promotion practices were assessed using a questionnaire prepared by the investigator and quality of life was measured using the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index Generic Version 3. The subjects in the experiment group received the multi -component intervention strategy which was a set of independent nursing interventions that were conducted every day of the week except Sunday, from 9.30 12.30 p.m. for a period of 6 months. The control group did not receive the intervention. Pre and post intervention quality of life was assessed. Findings revealed the two groups of subjects were homogenous in their demography and socio-economic characteristics. The overall prevalence of health promotion practices indicated that 39.9% of subjects were in poor category, 37.4% in moderate and 22.7% scored good. Quality of life scores between the subjects were experiment and control groups were found significant in all four domains (health and functioning, social/economic, psychological and spiritual and family) after the interventions, which proved the efficacy of the multi-component intervention. Above all it sensitizes nurses to the needs of this revered group, and provides evidence that health promotion practices in the form of simple nursing interventions has a positive influence on how the elderly perceive their quality of life.