The Comparative Study on the Health Promotion Life Style and Perceived Health Status of Elderly in Urban and Rural Area

도시와 농촌지역 노인의 건강증진행위와 지각된 건강상태 비교

Objectives: This study was to investigate the needs for developing the health promotion program for elderly and to compare the health promoting lifestyles behaviors and perceived health status of elderly in urban and rural area. Methods: The data was collected from 82 elders in urban(D city) and 77 elders in rural area(C county) by face to face interview. The Health Promoting Lifestyle ProfileII(HPLPII) and Perceived Health Status were used. Results: 1) The total score of HPLP was 2.44. In the subscales, the highest degree of performance was 'nutrition', following 'interpersonal relationship', 'stress management', 'health responsibility' and 'spiritual growth' and the lowest degree of performance was 'physical activity'. 2) Elderly people living in urban area had significantly higher the total HPLP score than elderly people living in rural area The urban elderly had significantly higher the score of HPLP subscales such as 'physical activity', 'interpersonal relationship' and stress management than rural elderly. 3) The mean score of perceived health status was 8.79. There was no significant difference in the perceived health status between urban and rural elderly. Conclusions: The above findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a health promotion program with reinforced physical activity, health responsibility and spiritual growth for elderly people in Korea. Especially the physical activity need to he strengthened for rural elderly.