@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2019;25(1):37-42

Background
The advancement of medical knowledge has led to an increase in the longevity and population growth of the elderly [1]. The increase in the aging population is not specific to advanced countries, but is a phenomenon that is facing developed and developing countries like Iran [2].
Previous Studies
... [3-9]. A national survey in the United States showed that only 11% of adults had adequate health literacy [10]. Various studies have also shown that low levels of health literacy are associated with undesirable physical and mental health in the elderly [11]. For example, Izadi et al. in their study have shown that inadequate levels of health literacy are more common in older, less educated, lower people, and women [12]. In another study, Raisi et al. have shown that in 79.7%, 11.6%, and only 8.8% of the elderly, health literacy was inadequate, in the borderline and good health literacy level [8]. ... [13-15]. Research is based on the assumption that people who rely heavily on themselves have a weaker partnership with health care providers. The theme that examines the place of health inhibition is the perception of personal effectiveness and individual responsibility in the field of health. The theory of the place of inhibition (place or center of control) of health is a measure of personal beliefs that control the health of individuals through internal or external factors [16]. In an article, Wallstone states that the goal of all health educators is to create internal control in individuals [15]. Based on the theory of health inhibition, people's learning is based on past reinforcements, followed by special and general expectations in the individual [17].
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education based on the theory of health inhibition on elderly health literacy.
Research type
This is a pilot study in the field.
Research society, place and time
The population of the study consisted of elderly people aged 60 to 75 years old in Bardaskan in 2017.
Sampling method and number
This study was conducted on 100 elderly people aged 60-75 in Bardeskan city. Subjects were assigned to two groups of test (50 persons) and control (50 people) using a four-way balanced block randomization method. The criteria for entry into the research were the availability of health records, informed consent, the absence of confirmed disorders in physical health records such as deafness and motor and psychological problems such as Alzheimer's disease and severe depression (as barriers to attending educational sessions).
Used devices&materials
... [18-26].The data gathering tool was a questionnaire on demographic characteristics and personal information, adult health literacy and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLCS). In order to evaluate the level of health literacy, an adult health literacy questionnaire, designed and validated by Montazeri et al., was used in Iran. The questionnaire consists of 33 items in 5 domains. Reliability for each item was 0.79-0.82 and construct validity was 52.2% [27]. … [28]. To measure health control beliefs in this study, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (MHLCS), which predict health behaviors based on people's beliefs, were used. All items in this questionnaire have 6 scale options in the Likert scale and is graded from 1 to 6. [19] The validity of the Persian version of the tool is confirmed by methods of face, content, and construct validity and reliability was measured through test-retest, peer-tests and internal stability in the study by Meshki et al. Also, Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged from 0.69 to 0.72 and the coefficient of reliability of parallel forms ranged from 0.70 to 0.72 for C.P.I components. For the intervention group, the educational program was performed according to the pre-test results based on the theory of health inhibition. In these meetings, elderly people, based on the beliefs and beliefs of the inner and outer locus of health containment, tried to understand the role and importance of health literacy in life, and to be able to identify their values and abilities, strengthen their positive points, and ways to increase trust in Find the breath and deal with the problems. It is important to note that the researcher has set up a research program in which the intervention plan is designed to address health inhibition and to improve the health of the elderly. The intervention program was conducted during the 6 sessions of 45-60 minutes for 2 months by lecture and group discussion by members of the research team. In addition to training sessions, educational pamphlets were also distributed among the intervention group. In this regard, during the intervention period, no training program was conducted for the control group and they only participated in the routine programs of the centers. To maintain ethical considerations, after the end of the study, a compact educational class was held for the control group. After the end of the intervention, the subjects completed the questionnaires again. To analyze the data, descriptive and analytical statistics were used using SPSS software version 21.
Findings by Text
Data from 91 elderly people were analyzed (46 cases from test group-45 cases from control group). The mean and standard deviation of the subjects` age was 66.9±4.45 in the experimental group and 67.7±4.39 in the control group (p<0.050; Table 1). The mean scores of subjects in the subscales of the level of health inhibition in two groups of experimental and control were determined before and after educational intervention in Table 2. The mean of health literacy of the subjects in the experimental and control groups was also determined before and after the intervention (Table 3).
Main comparison to the similar studies
The results showed that the level of education among the elderly before and after the intervention in the control and control groups before and after the intervention was inadequate and borderline. These results were consistent with the results of a study conducted by Raisi et al., which showed that the level of health literacy in the elderly group was very low, so that about 79% of the elderly have insufficient literacy [8]. Won et al. Have also shown in their study that the level of health literacy is inadequate in about 30% of people over 60 years of age [20]. Also, Tehrani et al. have shown that there is a significant relationship between the level of health literacy with age, sex, education and income [21]. Sharp and Candola also showed that the level of health literacy of patients after training was significantly increased [25, 26]. Also, Kamali et al in their study showed that the mean of health literacy score was significantly different in the intervention group before and after the intervention [18]. Meshki et al. have also reported that there is a relationship between dimensions of health beliefs and life style during pregnancy and there is a significant relationship between the belief in controlling internal health and the dimensions of nutrition and lifestyle safety during pregnancy [16]. According to the results of their research, Mahesti Ganjoo et al. stated that students believed in the role of internal factors in controlling their health and considered the role of external factors such as chance and custody in maintaining and improving their health [15].
Suggestions
None declared.
Limitations
None declared.
Conclusions
Educational intervention based on the theory of health inhibition can affect the health of the elderly. Therefore, by recognizing the beliefs of health control, it is possible to establish appropriate educational programs for the education and development of elderly health literacy.
Acknowledgments
All elderly people participating in the research, as well as the Vice-Chancellor for Education and Research of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, the Regional Ethics Committee for Research, Graduate Department and Research Affairs Department of the University are appreciated.
Conflict of interest
No conflicts of interest have been expressed by the authors.
Ethical Permissions
Ethical confirmation of this research was recorded from the Ethics Committee of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences with the code IR.GMU.REC. 1395.113, and registered at the IRCT Clinical Trial Database with code 32172.
Funding Sources
This article is the result of a student dissertation, a master's degree from Gonabad University of Medical Sciences.

TABLES and CHARTS

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