Abstract
Based on social cognitive theory (SCT), an educational program was developed to prevent rural elderly residents from respiratory infections in South Korea. The effectiveness of the program was investigated in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and practices about respiratory infection prevention, as well as social capital. A pretest–posttest nonequivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used to test the short-term effect of this program. In addition, 1- and 6-month follow-up surveys were administered to evaluate the long-term effects. A total of 69 subjects (37 in the experimental group and 32 in the control group) participated in the experiment. The results showed that knowledge about respiratory infection prevention, respiratory infection prevention practices, and social capital were enhanced among the elderly residents who participated in the educational program. The educational effects differed significantly across time periods (pretest, posttest, 1- and 6-month follow up) in all the above variables. In particular, the program remained effective 1 month after the intervention, but a reinforcement session extended the program’s effects up to 6 months later. This educational program would be used as an effective intervention to help rural elderly residents prevent respiratory infections.
Highlights
As a country whose aging population is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, South Korea is estimated to become a super-aged society—where 20 percent or more of the population is 65 or older—in 2025 and to have the largest elderly population worldwide by 2045 [1,2]
Based on social cognitive theory (SCT), we developed an educational program for respiratory infection prevention for rural elderly residents in South Korea
The effectiveness of the program was investigated in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and practices about respiratory infection prevention, as well as social capital
Summary
As a country whose aging population is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, South Korea is estimated to become a super-aged society—where 20 percent or more of the population is 65 or older—in 2025 and to have the largest elderly population worldwide by 2045 [1,2]. Since medical expenditure for the elderly constitutes nearly 40 percent (39.9%) of South Korea’s total medical expenditure [3], health management for the elderly population is an urgent issue in the country. Health education and health promotion programs for rural elderly residents are needed to improve the quality of life of the elderly in South Korea. Aging has been shown to increase the prevalence and severity of diseases, as well as the risk of mortality. According to Korean cause of death statistics, in 2018, the mortality rate from pneumonia was only 0.1 per 100,000 for 10–19 year olds, but increased rapidly with aging to 24.9 per 100,000 for 60–69 year olds, 144.0 per 100,000 for 70–79 year olds, and 978.3 per 100,000 for 80 years or
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