 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Yasuaki Goto1, Yosikazu Nakamura, MD, MPH2, Rikuo Kurobe1, and Toshiki Yazaki1. (1) Department of Research, Japan Health & Research Institute, 6-1-21-4F Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0021, Japan, 81-3-3944-8855, ygoto@jph-ri.or.jp, (2) Department of Public Health, Jichi Medical School, 3311 Yakushiji, Minamikawachi-machi, Tochigi-ken, 329-0498, Japan
Background: Programs of independent living for elderly people are generally designed using physical and psychological conditions. The interests of individuals are diversely different even when the physical conditions are the same. The interest in daily life is an important factor for planning the programs for independent living more adequately. The purpose of this study is to examine the evaluation structure of interests of Japanese elderly people in their daily life. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted in 20 municipalities all over Japan in 2000. From the residents aged 65 years and over, 6,000 individuals were selected randomly as a study population. We selected 18 items as a scale of interests for elderly people, and designed a four-point scale to evaluate the importance of the interests. Results: Of 5,565 participants, 4,756 individuals answered all the 18 items. "To have a good time with family" was the most favorite answer (54.8%) among 18 items replied "very important". Four factors (eigenvalue > 1) were extracted (cumulative variance: 55.6%) by an applying principal component analysis. We named these 4 factors as follows; "to live with good communication", "to achieve one's purpose", "to live socially", and "to live comfortably". Discussion: With this scale, we could detect the diversity of interests of Japanese elderly people in their daily life more precisely. We suggest that this scale might be useful not only to analyze the interests of individuals, but also to plan the programs in terms of quality of life or independent living in later life.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Elderly, Quality of Life
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.