Effects of a health-promotion program on cardiovascular risk factors, health behaviors, and life satisfaction in institutionalized elderly women

This study applied a 3-month health-promotion program to institutionalized elderly people to examine changes in cardiovascular risk factors, health behaviors, and life satisfaction. Twenty-one elderly women with an average age of 77 years participated in the program consisting of cardiovascular risk assessments, Korean traditional dance movements (KTDMs), and health education/counseling. Paired t-tests revealed that the participants exhibited significant reductions in total risk score, improvements in health behaviors and life satisfaction at the end of the program. However, the positive effects tend to decrease at 3 months after the program ended. In conclusion, the health-promotion program using KTDM exercises was safely applicable and beneficial to institutionalized elderly women.