A Model-Based Survey of Physical Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

背景　對老人身體健康狀態有周全性的了解，將有助於設計老人活動方案，以維護及促進他們的健康。目的　本研究旨在探討社區老人身體健康，並比較不同年齡群、性別及運動習慣者，其身體健康狀況的差異。方法　此調查性研究以分層隨機抽樣方式，遴選384位台灣社區老人參與本研究。以「老人健康模式」為基礎，其測量變項含：日常活動功能（6項指標）和生理狀態（14項指標）。資料則以ANOVA、獨立樣本t檢定分析。結果　多數研究對象的身體健康指標均在正常範圍內，除中廣型肥胖（男性：42.90％，女性：80.30％）、異常血壓（收縮壓：47.10％，舒張壓：7％）、肺活量偏差（男性：59.30％，女性：70.70％）。無論是日常活動功能或生理狀態，65－74歲之初老老人及有運動習慣者，都比85歲以上之老老人及無運動習慣者佳（p＜.05）。男性老人則在生理狀態方面優於女性老人（p＜.05）。結論／實務應用　保持活躍的生活型態及規律性的運動，對延緩老化而言相當重要，而老年人之身體負荷度、功能狀態、教育程度和性別差異等因素，則應納入老人健康促進計畫設計之考量。國家衛生政策則建議以活躍老化及健康老化為目標，積極提升老人健康。

關鍵字

日常活動功能；老人；身體健康；生理狀態

並列摘要

Background: Having a better comprehension of older adults' physical health can help healthcare professionals better design program activities to maintain and promote the health of this population.Purpose: This study investigated the physical health of community-dwelling older adults and compared physical health differences among different age subgroups, gender, and exercise habits.Methods: Using stratified random sampling, 384 Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults were recruited in this survey research. Researchers used the Health Model of Older Adults to measure activities of daily living (6 indicators) and physical status (14 indicators). Analysis of variance and independent t test analyzed the data.Results: Most participant physical health indicators were within normal ranges. Exceptions included central obesity (men: 42.90%, women: 80.30%), abnormal blood pressure (systolic: 47.10%, diastolic: 7%), and deteriorated lung capacity (men: 59.30%, women: 70.70%). Young-old subgroup participants (65Y74 years old) and exercisers performed better in their activities of daily living and had better physical status than old-old subgroup participants (9 85 years old) and nonexercisers (all p＜.05). Men had better physical status than women (all p＜.05).Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Maintaining an active lifestyle and exercising regularly are essential to delaying or preventing the deterioration of natural aging. Physical tolerance, functional ability, educational level, and gender differences should be considered when designing a health promotion program for this population. It is essential for national health policy to enhance older adult health and promote active and healthy aging.

並列關鍵字

activities of daily living ； older adults ； physical health ； physical status

參考文獻

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