Abstract
ObjectivesTo develop and validate a Taiwanese version of the Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP-T) for community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (≥ 55 years).MethodsThe original Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP) is a 56-item self-report questionnaire measuring various aspects of health-related lifestyles in older adults. The standard cultural-adaptation procedure was used for questionnaire translation and modification. A field test was conducted for culturally specific item selection, rating-scale analysis, and psychometric validation of the HELP-T in a sample of 274 community-dwelling older adults via classical test theory.ResultsThe 59-item HELP-T is culturally adapted from the original 56-item HELP. The original 6-point rating scale was modified to a 3-point scale for easy use by Taiwanese older adults. The HELP-T had good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.82). The test-retest reliability for the total score was high (0.92), and moderate to high (range: 0.57–0.92) for subscales. The construct validity was supported by the significant correlations between each subscale and the total score (Spearman’s rho = 0.41–0.67, p < 0.0001) and by the ability of the scores to significantly discriminate between participants with different levels of self-rated health (p = 0.0001).ConclusionsThe HELP-T is a suitable clinical tool for assessing and monitoring lifestyle risk factors, establishing client-centered lifestyle intervention goals, and determining the outcomes of lifestyle interventions.
Highlights
Taiwan is one of the world’s most rapidly aging nations
A field test was conducted for culturally specific item selection, rating-scale analysis, and psychometric validation of the Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP)-T in a sample of 274 community-dwelling older adults via classical test theory
In 1980, Dr James Fries, the “healthy-aging pioneer”, hypothesized that active and healthy lifestyles would minimize the duration of chronic diseases, postpone the onset of disability and premature death, and decrease the amount of disability among all adults [4]
Summary
Taiwan is one of the world’s most rapidly aging nations. Between 1993 and 2018, the elderly population (! 65 years) almost doubled from 1.49 million (7% of the entire population) to 2.9 million (14%); this number is predicted to will reach approximately 4.4 million (20%) in 2026 [1]. National statistics for 2016 [2] showed mean life expectancy at 80.0 years but healthy life expectancy at only 71.0 years, which indicates an 8- to 9-year duration for healthcare services. Elderly Taiwanese have 2 or more chronic diseases, and 0.48 million of them are expected to require long-term care [3]. This will present a formidable challenge to families, healthcare providers, the government, and the entire community. In 1980, Dr James Fries, the “healthy-aging pioneer”, hypothesized that active and healthy lifestyles would minimize the duration of chronic diseases, postpone the onset of disability and premature death, and decrease the amount of disability among all adults [4]. A paradigm shift in aging care is needed to emphasize the strategies of disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles [5]
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