Effects of a Peer-Delivered Health-Promoting Exercise Program for Community-Dwelling Elders Kim Jong-Im1,*, Kim Sun Kyung2, Kim Hyunjoo3, Kim Sunae4, Kim Taehui1,**, Park Keumok1,***, Kim Bohyun1,**** 1College of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea 2Department of Nursing, Mokpo National University, Republic of Korea, skkim@mokpo.ac.kr 3Department of Nursing, Korea National University of Transportation, Republic of Korea, hjkim@ut.ac.kr 4Department of Nursing, Kkottongnae University, Republic of Korea, sakim@kkot.ac *Corresponding Author E-mail: jikim@cnu.ac.kr
**sky-ibe@hanmail.net
***krepepk@naver.com
****bhkim@cnu.ac.kr
Online published on 16 May, 2018. Abstract Background/Objectives The purpose of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a health-promoting exercise program, based on an education-delivery system for community-dwelling elders living alone. Methods/Statistical analysis This was a quasi experimental study. Participants were recruited from two senior centers in two cities. A total of 58 elders living alone were recruited at two social-welfare centers; 58 completed both the pretest and posttest. The experimental group received a total of 8 sessions of a health-promoting exercise program, led by community residents participating in a senior-employment project. Findings The mean age of study participants for the experimental and control groups was 74.48 and 77.40, respectively. The majority of study participants were female (77.1%) and had religion (87.5%), and 60.4% were uneducated or undereducated. Only 14.6% of participants perceived their health status to be good. In a homogeneity test, no statistically significant difference emerged between the experimental and control groups in any outcome variables including pain, flexibility, life satisfaction, self-esteem, or depression. In evaluating the effectiveness of peer health supporters who led the health-promoting exercise program for 8 weeks, a statistically significant improvement emerged for one variable: self-esteem. No statistically significant changes emerged in any outcome variables for the experimental and control groups. Improvements/Applications This study illustrated the possibility of engaging the senior-employment project to aid in the health promotion of elderly community residents. Further study is necessary to develop an effective education-delivery system emphasizing the role of community-resident peer participation. Top Keywords health promoting exercise program, education-delivery system, community resident, elderly, self-esteem. Top |