Sophia Chan|Winnie K.W. So|David Wong|Angel C.K. Lee|Agnes Tiwari
Improving older adults’ knowledge and practice of preventive measures through a telephone health education during the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong: A pilot study
University of Hong Kong|University of Hong Kong|University of Hong Kong|University of Hong Kong|University of Hong Kong
outbreak severe acute respiratory syndrome sars hong kong posed many challenges health promotion activities among group older adults low socioeconomic status ses concerns vulnerable group could higher risk contracting disease spreading others implementation health promotion activities appropriate group considered essential epidemicto assess effectiveness delivering telephone health education programme dealing anxiety levels knowledge practice measures prevent transmission sars among group older adults low sespretestposttest designsubjects recruited registered members government subsidized social service center hong kong living lowcost housing estatesthe eligibility criteria 1 aged 55 2 able speak cantonese 3 hearing impairment 4 reachable telephone 295 eligible subjects 122 older adults completed whole studythe interviewers approached eligible subjects telephone period 1525 may 2003 obtaining participants verbal consent interviewer collected baseline data use questionnaire implemented health education programme followup telephone call made week later using questionnairethe level anxiety lowered t328 p0001 knowledge regarding transmission routes droplets p0001 urine feces p001 improved intervention although statistical significant difference found practice identified preventive measures intervention influence behavioral changes needed explorationthe telephone health education seemed effective relieving anxiety improving knowledge main transmission routes sars group practice preventing sars telephone contact appears practical way providing health education vulnerable groups facetoface measure feasible may useful raising health awareness future outbreaks emerging infections