The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45950

Marisa A. Scala, MGS¹, Diana Lawry, MA², Kimberly Maxwell, PhD², and T Lehman, MA³. (1) Center for Medicare Education, 2519 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008, 202-508-1209, mscala@MedicareEd.org, (2) Academy for Educational Development, 1825 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, (3) Center for Applied Behavioral and Evaluation Research, Academy for Educational Development, 1825 Conn. Ave, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20009

Recent years have witnessed a growing emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention for the older population among government agencies, health and health-care professionals, and the general public. However, while there is an ever-increasing volume of materials and tools aimed at consumers in these areas, the link between these materials and changes in health behaviors for consumers, especially older people, is largely unknown. This session presents findings from a research project funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Programs to Support Healthy Aging. This project involves formative research and product assessment of consumer education tools and strategies that address issues of health promotion and disease prevention for older adults (including those in minority populations and under-served groups). Using selected educational materials concerning flu and pneumococcal prevention, researchers tested these materials with consumers and health-care/aging services professionals in three geographically dispersed market sites. The purpose was to ascertain the impact of these tools on healthy behaviors and practices of older adults, including consumer use of existing preventive health benefits through Medicare (flu and pneumococcal vaccinations) as a means of health promotion. Results from focus groups with older consumers in various settings (e.g. those still living in their own homes, as well those living in residential care settings) and in-depth interviews with professionals will be shared. Presenters will also offer specific recommendations and strategies to improve the tested health education materials, including but not limited to refining communication objectives, addressing target audience needs, material layout/design requirements, and distribution methodology.

Learning Objectives:

• • Recognize the unique education needs of older people with regard to health promotion and health-care education.
  • Evaluate consumer education materials on flu and pneumococcal prevention for older people.
  • Discuss recommendations and strategies for improving consumer health education materials for older adults.

Keywords: Health Promotion, Elderly

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.