 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Eleni Tolma, MPH PhD1, Marcia Lane, MPH2, Carol Cornman, BS2, and M. Alkaz Uddin, PhD3. (1) Department of Health Pormotion Sciences, Univeristy of Oklahoma, P.O.Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (405) 271-2017, eleni-tolma@ouhsc.edu, (2) Univeristy of South Carolina, 800 Sumter street, Columbia, SC 29208, (3) Female Health Care, P.O.Box 100, Montville, NJ, NJ 07045
Background: The Placemat Strength Training Program (PSTP) is an exercise program designed to maintain functional fitness. The PSTP took place at two sites of an assisted living facility in S. Carolina from December 1998 to May 2000. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of PSTP. This study is significant because a) it incorporated both traditional and empowerment evaluation, b) it focused on sustainability, and c) of its priority population. Methods: The study population consisted of frail elderly residents (initial n=30, final n=17) living in an assisted living facility. A quasi-experimental design with delayed treatment was employed. Alternative methods, such as the use of triangulation in data collection (quantitative and qualitative methods) and data analysis (Fishers’ exact test, content analysis) as well as the role of the evaluator as a stakeholder were employed. Rigorous process evaluation was incorporated throughout the study. Results: The full implementation of PSTP has resulted in higher physical strength, better exercising status, higher motivation to exercise and better locomotion among its participants. The PSTP has been partially institutionalized at the assisted living facility. Conclusion: The PSTP when fully implemented can be beneficial to frail elderly. The use of empowerment evaluation not only can be used in conjunction to traditional evaluation but it can also enhance its effects. Implications for practice and research: The paper discusses limitations in the practice of empowerment evaluation, difficulties in working with frail elderly as research participants, and ways to improve the implementation of PSTP
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Evaluation
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.