The purpose of this study was to develop steps of behavior change strategies for promoting physical activity and for engaging a healthy life among elderly with disability by using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and International Classification of ...
The purpose of this study was to develop steps of behavior change strategies for promoting physical activity and for engaging a healthy life among elderly with disability by using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). In order to achieve this objective, systematic literature review and surveys were conducted to reconstitute items of ICF. Based on that information promoting physical activity behavior strategies were developed for older adults with physical disability.
In the systematic literature review, studies were searched employing pubmed from before 2000 to 2013. Article Search was carried out in four steps; in the first step 11,333 studies were found and only 952 papers were relevant with the purpose of this study. In the second-stage, 382 papers from 952 were selected because they were about physical activity, older adults, disability followed by in the third stage, 172 papers that were highly related to the study were selected. In the final stage, 82 papers that were related to ICF index were selected.
Among 82 papers, 14 studies were from before 2000, 11 papers were from 2001 to 2005, 33 studies were from 2006 to 2010, and 24 studies were from 2011-2013. And, in 82 papers, 40 papers were about function and structure of the body, 25 studies were activities and participation, 6 papers were corresponding to the environmental factors, and 11 papers were related to personal factors.
Open-ended survey was to examine the participation constraint factors to the physical activity in the elderly with disability. In order to increase the validity and reliability of the survey, systematic literature review and insight from expert meetings were employed. In the survey, the limiting factor of participation in physical activity of each stage was confirmed. 229 elderly with disability participated in the survey which was divided into five stages in TTM.
As a result, physical conditions, psychological constraints, the lack of motivation, accessibility constraints, lack of exercise assistant, lack of time, and lack of money were the participation constraint when people were ready to exercise or preparing for physical activities. The limiting factors for difficult or disturbing when disabled seniors were exercising were physical conditions, the process of aging, lack of dedicated facilities, interpersonal relationship problems, lack of motivation, fear, lack of professional leaders, external environment, psychological constraints, and economic problems. And elderly with disability might want to exercise when the motivation of health, social motivation, compatibility, successful aging, mental health, the execution of the exercise, benefits to the body, overcome disability, and independence were improved.
The results about motivation of starting exercise from the survey were as follows. in the stage 1 (precontemplation), the motivation of health, social motivation, compatibility, successful aging, exercise performance, improvement of independence were key factors; in the stage 2 (contemplation), the motivation of health s, social motivation, compatibility, successful aging, exercise performance, physical benefits, overcome disability, and improvement of independence were key elements; in the stage 3 (preparation), the motivation of health, social motivation, mental health, exercise performance, and physical benefits were key factors; in the stage 4 (action), the motivation of health, compatibility, successful aging, and overcome disability were key parts; and in the stage 5 (maintenance), the motivation of health, social motivation, compatibility, successful aging, mental health, exercise performance, physical benefits, overcome disability, and improvement of independence were key elements.
In order to clarify the characteristics of physical disability reconfiguration of the ICF was conducted based on the analyzed data. For this reason, opinions from researchers and professionals were complied. The categories of the original ICF were consisted with 79 physical functions , 62 activities and participations, and 64 environmental factors and reconstructed factors were 32 physical functions, 30 activities and participations, and 26 environmental factors. Specifically, physical functions included 7 factors such as mental function, sensory function and pain, voice/conversation function, cardiovascular respiratory function, digestive system/ metabolism/ endocrine system of function, reproductive function, associated with neuro-musculoskeletal and movement functions. Activities and participations also had 7 areas such as, the application of knowledge and learning, general challenges and needs, communication, movement, self-management, family life, and interpersonal relationships. Finally, environmental factors included 5 factors such as products and technology, the natural environment, the relationship and support, attitude, service and system, policy were reconstituted.
Based on the above results, precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages were intensively illuminated because three stages were important for changing exercise behaviors. In the three stages, 10 factors which people influenced by internally or externally were studied and a guideline of promoted strategies were developed based on each independent factor.
The study found that promotion strategies for each exercise behavior change stage in elderly with physically disabled required policy support in addition to the administrative matters. Also, the cooperation of different expert groups, family and relatives of elderly with disability could change exercise behaviors of disabled older adults. It is necessary to check and continuously promote exercise behaviors to seniors with disability and healthy senior helped disabled seniors was positively suggested. If we employed these strategies effectively, elderly with physical disability would continuously participate in physical activity programs.
Exercise promotion strategies for each behavior change could be used for future policy decisions and institutional development for seniors with physical disability. Additionally, the study results might be utilized to develop physical activity programs as well as health communication strategies, eventually it was possible to provide a positive effect on improving the quality of life of elderly with disability.