Identification of Health Promotion Behaviors, Perceived Health Status and Perceived Health Education Needs of Older Women

The health-promoting behaviors, perceived health status, and perceived health education needs of older women were identified in this non-experimental, descriptive, correlational study. Fifty women over 60 years of age, living in three housing complexes for the elderly, disabled and handicapped in two southeastern United States cities were asked to complete The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, The Perceived Health Status Questionnaire, The Health Education Needs Questionnaire, and Demographic Data Sheet. It was concluded that the women engaged in a high level of health-promoting behaviors. The participants rated their health as good and rated their health as good compared to that of other women their age. Health education topics related to medication usage and to fall and injury prevention were most frequently selected. The relationship found between health-promoting behaviors and perceived health status supported Pender\u27s Health Promotion Model, the theoretical framework for this study