The use of Cable Television as a Tool in Health Education of the Elderly: Screening

Abstract

A cable television channel was used to inform residents in a housing project for the elderly about a series of preventive health services. Screening and referral services for common health problems were offered to this group. The televised communications included a series of brief, informal advertising-style and direct teaching-style messages developed for each of five screening areas. An evaluation found that the televised messages had both direct and indirect effects on participation in the screening programs; overall attendance was about 8% of the estimated potential attendance. Knowledge and health attitude effects of the messages were also assessed.

Nutrition Education and the Elderly

“…Some information on television use and service information delivery to the elderly is already available. The approaches vary from half-hour magazine format programs to public television programs (Newman, Martin, & Farrell, 1978), and from the use of public service announcements (Fitzgibbons & Garcia, 1977) to the use of cable television (Salzer, Marshall, & Glazer, 1977). Newman et al (1978) described the viewing audience of a Nebraska Public Television Program, "Heartline to Health."…”

“…The evaluators proposed using such announcements a s part of a more comprehensive nutrition campaign. Salzer et al (1977) described the use of cable television to inform residents in an East Harlem housing project about a series of free, on-site screening services. The Salzer study concluded that a cable television format can be an important source of information encouraging attendance at health screenings.…”