The effect of training program of health promotion behaviors on geriatric general health components

BACKGROUND: Increasing in elderly's population and their individual and social problems especially mental health problem in this group need special attention. The aim of this study was evaluation of health promotion behaviors training program efficacy on general health components in elderlies referring to health centers in Isfahan city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a tri phasic field trial in 2014 in which 72 elderlies allocated randomly in two case and control groups. Case group participated in 9 training sessions on stress management and interpersonal relationships and the control group participated in 2 sessions with a neutral discussion content. Data collection tools were demographic information questionnaire and general health questionnaire 28. Pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up were performed in two groups. Data were analyzed by t-test, analysis of variance with repeated measurement, least significant difference post hoc test, and SPSS 20 software. RESULTS: Findings of this study showed that the average of general health score in case and control groups had not significant difference before the intervention (P > 0.05). However, the mean difference of general health score after intervention and 2-month follow-up was statistically significant in two groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that interpersonal relationship and stress management training program are effective on promotion of mental health in elderlies. Hence, the findings of this study can be used in the field of treatment and care of the elderly by other health-care categories.