A Study on Physiological Parameter, Physical Health Status, and Health Perception in the Elderly

Han, Ae Kyung

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose was to investigate the physiological parameter and physical health status and health perception in the elderly, and to find the correlation between these variables. The subjects were 139 in Kyungi senior center. METHOD: The instruments for this study were physiological parameters, which were composed of vital capacity, blood pressure, pulse oxygenation, hand grip power, body fat and physical health status scale developed by researcher, and health perception scale developed by Ware(1976). The data were analyzed by the SPSS-PC 11.0 version. RESULTS: 1) 7.9% of subjects were included in abnormal range of vital capacity, 40.3% were systolic hypertension and 11.5% were diastolic hypertension. And 92.1% were included in normal range of pulse oxygenation, 79.8% were weakened hand grip power, and 10.1% of subjects were included in normal range of body fat. 2) The total mean score of the physical health status was 26.34 of a possible maximum score of 45. The physical health status score of women was lower than man's. 3) The mean score of man's health perception was 24.52 and women's was 20.39 of a possible maximum score of 44. 4) There was a significant positive correlation between hand grip power and physical health status(r=.28, p=.001). And a significant correlation between physical health status and health perception was found (r=.24, p=.004). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the blood pressure, hand grip power and body fat among the physiological parameters of elderly subjects in Kyungi senior center were included in abnormal range. The factors were related life style. therefore, it is suggested that the health education to change life style for the elderly is needed.