Perceived health competence and health education experience predict health promotion behaviors among rural older adults: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Health promotion behaviors are key determinant of health and well-being, and also play an important role in promoting successful aging. This study investigated levels of engagement in health promotion behaviors among Chinese rural older adults, and explored effects of perceived health competence, health education activities experience and sociodemographic variables on health promotion behavior in this population. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional survey was performed. Participants were recruited by a multistage, stratified, cluster-sampling procedure from Nanbu County, Sichuan Province, China. All participants completed four paper questionnaires: sociodemographic characteristics and health care status survey, the Chinese version of the health promoting lifestyle profile-II (HPLP-II), perceived health competence scale and Lubben social network scale. Data were collected from July to August 2021. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the effects of different factors on health promotion behaviors. Results A total of 425 rural older adults with an average age of 72.7 years were included in analysis. The overall average score of HPLP-II was 101.6. The stepwise multiple linear regression analysis results showed that those who had higher perceived health competence (β = 0.66, P < 0.001), experienced health education activities (β = 0.254, P < 0.001), had physical examination (β = 0.107, P < 0.001), was married (β = 0.189, P < 0.001), had primary school education or above (β = 0.189, P < 0.001), and had a per capita monthly household income of more than 1000¥ (β = 0.085, P = 0.007), have higher levels of engagement in health promotion behaviors; while the level of health promotion behaviors of the older adults living alone was lower than that of living with their spouse or others (β = -0.192, P < 0.001). Combination of the above variables accounted for a total of 69.1% of the variance in health promotion behaviors. Conclusions: The level of health promotion behaviors among Chinese rural older adults is low. Perceived health competence and health education activities experience are two strong determinants of health promotion behaviors. Comprehensive health promotion programs aimed at improving perceived health competences and health literacy through health education activities may be an important part of optimizing the level of health promotion behaviors among rural older adults.

Assessment of Perceived Health Competencies among Nursing Students and its Correlation with Self-Esteem - A Multi Institutional Study

“…The findings are in line with a study that reveals that the number of male participants were in majority (58%) 14 . While the results are different from a study that shows that the female student's participants (71.8%) were in majority compared to male participants (28.2%) 15 , similarly another study also contradicted our findings that include the maximum number of female participants (93.5%) 16 .…”

“…In perceived behavior the higher mean score (4.50±1.3) of the item was "I can do things for my health as well as most other people" while in the outcome "I find efforts to change things I don't like about my health are ineffective" was the item with a maximum mean score of (3.73 ± 1.1), that shows that majority of the students perceived health competencies was higher and they were also concern regarding the health and were involve with health promoting and build a positive image of their selves, so the maximum level of perceived health competencies leads to self-confidence that became a part practice to promote health behaviors. The findings are in line with a study that shows that their perceived health competencies were higher that were associated with engagement in health activities 15 . The findings are also supported by other studies that explain that in the domain of health behaviors, they are associated with self-efficacy and have positive results 20,21 .…”

“…Furthermore, many other studies draw evidence that participants who improve their perceived health competencies will not only promote their health but also improve health-promoting behaviors among health workers and patients 15 .…”

Potential profiling of self-management skills in older comorbid patients

“…In addition, this group of people usually have peers with similar interests and a higher degree of social participation, which is conducive to the improvement of their self-management level through emotional comfort and experience sharing among peers. However, knowledge of health education is the key to the adoption of health behaviors by older people [24]. Therefore, the self-management level of older comorbid patients with religious beliefs is at a medium level, while their lifestyle is still at a low level, which needs to be further improved to enhance the health knowledge ability of older people and then improve their self-management level.…”

Public health nursing: Challenges and innovations for health literacy in rural area

“…Both perspectives play an important role in assessing the health status of rural areas and determining the next steps. Several studies have shown that where people live can influence the extent to which health promotion behaviors related to health literacy are practiced (Xie et al., 2022; Ydirin, 2021). Health literacy can also be viewed as an important public policy issue because it focuses on quality of care, cost of care, safety of care, and appropriate decision‐making in public health in general.…”