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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Yasuaki Goto, Mr¹, Toshiki Yazaki¹, and Yosikazu Nakamura². (1) Research Division, Japan Health & Research Institute, 4-16-5 Takanawa Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81-3-3944-8855, ygoto@jph-ri.or.jp, (2) Department of Public Health, Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji 3311-1, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan

To improve quality of life of elderly is getting an important task in Japan along with a progress of aging society. In our previous study, we have shown that interests of elderly were categorized by 4 subscales such as “to live with good communication”, “to achieve one's purpose”, “to live socially” and “to live comfortably”. In the current study, we investigate the correlation between interests and QOL of elderly using those subscales.

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey concerned with self-rated QOL and interests was conducted with 8,369 individuals for 65 years and over in October 2002. QOL was evaluated with a scale invented by Japan University, which is composed of “self-efficacy”, “life-satisfaction”, “self-control” and so on. The distribution of self-rated QOL was rated according to dependent variables with odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated using unconditional logistic models.

Of 8,369 participants, 6,699 (80%) individuals answered the survey. Of the respondents, 32 percent answered that “life satisfaction” was “excellent” and 53% answered that “self-efficacy” was “good”. According to aging, “self-efficacy” was decreased, however “life-satisfaction” was not significantly changed. “Life-satisfaction was highly related to “to live with good communication (OR=3.66, 95% CI, 3.18-4.20)”. “Self-efficacy” showed strong correlation to “to achieve one's purpose (OR=2.28, 95% CI, 2.01-2.59)”.

This study showed that each component of QOL was associated with different types of interests. We suggest that estimating the relation between QOL and interests may be very useful to make proper programs for elderly and it could promote QOL of elderly as well.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to that
• -each component of QOL was associated with different types of interests

Keywords: Quality of Life, Self-Efficacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered