Nurs Stud Pract Int | Volume 3, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access

Two-Year Rural Community-Based Health Promotion Program to Develop Healthy Behaviors toward Dementia Prevention

Luna Chang^1*, Li-Ling Liao², Yi-Wen Liou³ and Chao-Ying Yang⁴

¹Department of Nursing, National Tainan Junior College of Nursing, Taiwan ²Department of Health Management, I-Shou University, Taiwan ³Department of Nursing, Gueiren Health Center, Taiwan ⁴Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

^*Correspondance to: Luna Chang 

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Abstract

In order to encourage rural community members to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of dementia, the present study implemented twice short-course health promotion programs from 2018 to 2019. The studies of 192 subjects were sampled from six places. The subjects received regular cognitive function screenings and annual healthy lifestyle surveys. The 10-week courses consisted of five components: Exercise, nutrition, cognitive training, medical & family support, and stress relief. The study results showed significant differences in three health behaviors between two groups from 2018 to 2019: Active participation in learning activities, consumption of a Mediterranean diet, and weight control management. This study showed that rural elderly who engaged in the regular learning curriculum, established healthy lifestyle and managed chronic diseases could maintain a well cognitive status (MMSE: 26.04~27.18). The sustainable implementation of a health promotion program for dementia prevention can effectively help the public to cultivate a healthy lifestyle and maintain better cognitive function.

Keywords:

Dementia; Health promotion; Health education; Community health

Citation:

Chang L, Liao L-L, Liou Y-W, Yang C-Y. Two-Year Rural Community-Based Health Promotion Program to Develop Healthy Behaviors toward Dementia Prevention. Nurs Stud Pract Int. 2020; 3(1): 1013.