Use of senior center and the health-related quality of life in Korean older adults.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the use of senior center and health-related quality of life in Korean older adults.
METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted to two types of older adults who lived in Busan, Korea: 154 older adults who used a senior center and 137 older adults who did not use a senior center. The Korean version of short-form 36-item health survey was administered to assess the health-related quality of life. Demographic variables were obtained from a questionnaire. These were gender, age, family status, marital status, education, monthly income, present illness, body mass index and physical activity.
RESULTS: The 8-domain scales of physical function and role-physical were significantly higher in the users of the senior center compared with the non-users (F=4.87, p=0.027 and F=7.02, p=0.009, respectively). The 8-domain scales of vitality was also significantly higher in the users of the senior center compared with the non-users (F=7.48, p=0.007).
CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the users of the senior center have higher physical function, role-physical and vitality compared with the non-users. These findings suggest that although the results are unable to specify causal relationships using the senior center may lead to some improvement in health-related quality of life.

INTRODUCTION

Improving the quality of life is often the major goal in the provision of health care [1] and clinicians and policy-makers recognize the importance of measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in informing patient management, policy decisions [2] and resource allocation [3]. Recently, there is necessity for the evaluation of HRQOL to replenish the conventional evaluation methods that use different disease profile, with the death rate emphasized [4]. HRQOL is related to the measurement of the physical functional and basic health evaluation to understand people's state of health, including acknowledgment of feelings and social health understanding [5,6].

Korea, like many developed countries with growing elderly populations, uses its senior centers as means of long-term health care and prevention. This policy came about in July 2008, when Korea implemented one of its most important health improvement services [7], the long-term care insurance system. This system was developed primarily to promote the long-term health of the elderly through prevention [8]. It was thought that prevention would lead to a reduction in national medical expenditures and the stabilization of fiscal insurance costs [9], while concomitantly improving the overall health and quality of life (QOL) of senior citizens. As part of the implementation of the system, it was recommended that spending go not to large-scale infrastructure projects, but instead to existing senior centers.

Senior centers in Korea offer its senior citizens a wide variety of leisure and social activities, as well as programs and services that promote health and prevent disease. The centers are widely known in the community. As many as 83.7% of the senior citizens are at least aware of the senior centers, and 38.3% of them wish to use the facilities. Figure 1 shows a typical activity program offered by a senior center. Previous research has shown that participation in senior center activities influences the mental and physical health of the seniors involved [10,11]. The planning and construction of senior centers should take this into account. Integrated health services and promotion are critical to long-term care and prevention [12]. Also a solid understanding of the HRQOL of senior citizens using the centers will help clarify how to effectively enhance them.

Figure 1

Typical activity programs offered by the senior canter.

Conventional measures of HRQOL are often based on different disease profiles and mortality rates [4]. These purely physical measures, however, are in need of revaluation. A more holistic approach, one that includes measures of mental health aspects as well, is key to a proper understanding of HRQOL. Today's aging population has plenty of leisure time but little actual income. Socially and mentally, they often feel isolated and emotionally estranged. These feelings clearly have an impact on their QOL, and therefore should be included, along with physical health, in any study claiming to accurately measure the HRQOL of senior citizens. Previous research on senior centers have focused primarily on the relationship between physical health and factors like frequency and duration of attendance, user participation, which activities or services were utilized [13-17]; and while they did report improvements in chronic disease and physical function, they failed to examine actual HRQOL. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the use of senior centers and the HRQOL in Korean older adults.

METHODS

I. Samples

A. Participants

This study used a two-group cross-sectional comparative design. Questionnaires were used to distinguish the characteristics of two groups living in Busan, Korea. The first group is those senior citizens who utilize a local senior center at least once a week [13] the "users" and the second group is those senior citizens who do not utilize a local senior center the "non-users." A random sample of users was chosen from among four of Busan's twelve senior centers. This group consisted of 154 respondents, 19.3% of whom were male, 80.7% of whom were female, aged 71.2 ± 3.7 years, mean ± standard deviation (SD). The random sample of non-users came from data culled by a research company. This group consisted of 137 respondents, aged 70.2 ± 4.8 years, in proportions representative of Busan's population, 39.4% of whom are male, 60.6% of whom are female. Six trained professionals from a research company, five women and one man, who were carefully trained in extensive interviewing practicum, collected questionnaire data from respondents face-to-face. Respondents were apprised of the purpose of the research, and the content of the survey was fully explained to each participant before receiving written informed consent.

The purpose of the research and the content of the survey's questionnaire were fully explained to each participant before they gave written informed consent. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board by the Waseda University.

II. Measures

A. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL)

The Korean version of the medical outcomes study (MOS) short form 36-item health survey (SF-36) was administered to assess the HRQOL. The SF-36 questionnaire has 36 questions that are scored to measure eight domains of HRQL pertaining to both physical and mental aspects. The SF-36 (36 items) consists of eight dimensions: physical functioning (PF: 10 items), general health (GH: 5 items), mental health (MH: 5 items), bodily pain (BP: 2 items), role-physical (RP: 4 items), role-emotional (RE: 3 items), social functioning (SF: 2 items) and vitality (VT: 4 items). The response scores for each dimension are added and the total is converted to a score between 0-100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of HRQOL [5,18]. The SF-36 has been used in numerous studies with older adults and has demonstrated high reliability (Chronbach's α, 0.72 to 0.94) [19,20], construct validity [19] and convergent validity [21]. The reliability of the Korean version of the SF-36 by an alternate-forms method was adequate (Chronbach's α, 0.71 to 0.89). Also, the Korean version of the SF-36 meets the standard criteria for content and the construct and criterion validity (Chronbach's α, 0.92 to 0.93) [22]. This study uses it with permission of authors.

B. Demographic and health-related characteristics

Demographic variables were obtained by questionnaire. Variables comprised gender, age, family status, marital status, education level, and monthly income [23]. There were three age demographics: 65-69, 70-74, and 75 and older [23]. Educational level was also divided in three: unschooled, attended elementary school, and attended middle school or higher [23]. Family status was classified as living alone, living alone with a spouse, and living with other family or relatives; individuals living alone tend to report poor HRQOL [24,25]. Respondents were posed with a yes-or-no question used by the Insurance Welfare Family Department to determine their state of physical health: "Do you have any illness that prolongs over three months?" [23]. Height and weight were used to calculate body mass index (BMI), which in turn was divided into the standard three classifications proposed by the World Health Organization: underweight (less than 18.5), normal weight (18.5 to 24.9), and overweight or obese (25.0 or more) [26]. Previous research had also yielded data on how the presence of illness influences the 8-scale health of the SF-36 [27,28], BMI [29], and physical activity [30,31], which were used in the questionnaire.

We estimated amounts of physical activity using the Korean version of the international physical activity questionnaire short version (IPAQ-SV) [32]. IPAQ-SV is a self-reporting survey for estimating weekly amounts of physical activity [33]. The reliability and propriety of the IPAQ-SV Korean version at measuring high-intensity physical activity, moderate-intensity physical activity, and walking has been verified by a previous study [34]. For the purposes of this study, these physical activity levels were divided into two categories, less than 1500 MET-min/week and more than 1500 MET-minute/week.

III. Statistical Analysis

Analysis object of present research was initially 304 people in total, in which the user of the senior centers were 154 and non-users were 150. In the 150 non-users 13 people answered the questionnaire on the use of senior centers. Therefore the data of 291 people except the 13 was used to the analysis (male 28.9%, female 71.1%, average age 70.8 ± 4.3 years). A chi-squared test was utilized to compare differences in demographic variables among the user and non-users. Additionally, t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to determine the differences in the SF-36 measures among each demographic and health-related variable. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted using demographic factors (gender, education level, family status and monthly income) and health-related factors (physical activities and present illness) as covariates, the score of 8-domain scale in SF-36 as a dependent variable, and two groups classified by the usage situation of senior center as an independent variable. The alpha level was set at 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

I. Basic Characteristics of Respondents

The average age and standard deviation of the "users" of senior centers were 71.2 ± 3.7 years, while for "non-users" they were 70.3 ± 4.8 years. The number of users living with a spouse was 70 out of 154, or 55.6%. Approximately 83.6% of users have a monthly income less than one million won. 66.9% of them, given their BMI, were normal weight. 71.4% of them performed 1500 METs or more of physical activity weekly. 74.0% of them had no present illness.

Comparisons between users and non-users revealed that users tended to be older, have lower incomes, and live with their spouses or others. The users also were more likely to fall into the normal BMI range, at 18.5-24.9 (kg/m2) and tended to perform at least 1500 MET-minute of physical activity weekly (Table 1).

Table 1

Demographic characteristics of participants n (%)

If there is missing value in each item the figure may not reach N, KRW: Korean won.

*p<0.05, †p<0.001.

II. Relationship of Demographic Characteristics and Health-Related Characteristics on HRQOL

The result of t-test and ANOVA in the 8-domain scale in SF-36, demographic and health-related has showed that there were significant differences in gender, education, family status, monthly income, physical activity and present illness. As for gender, female showed higher score than male in subscale of SF-36, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning and role-emotional. As for education, those with higher educational background showed higher scores in all subscale of SF-36 compared with lower educational background. Moreover, the respondent's family status spouses or family showed higher numerical value compared with the respondents living alone. As for physical activity, 1500-minute/week and more in the 8-domain scale except for bodily pain and role-emotional showed higher numerical value compared with the people who performed under 1500-minute/week in physical activity. As for present illness, in all subscale, who answered "No" showed higher numerical value compared with the "Yes" (Table 2).

Table 2

Mean SF-36 scores for study participants: univariate analysis by demographic characteristics and health-related characteristics (Mean±SD)

PF: physical functioning, RP: role-physical, BP: bodily pain, GH: general health,VT: vitality, SF: social functioning, RE: role-emotional, MH: mental health, HRQOL : health related quality of life scale.

Comparison of differences between demographic and health-related aspects and each domain scale relevant to the SF-36 domain scale was made using t-test and ANOVA. Statistical significance was observed among senior center users and non-users regarding age, education, present illness, physical activities, and family status. For senior center users and gender, the female showed higher values in the domain scale SF-36 VT than that of the male. The SF-36 domain scale BP for senior center users and age were lowest in the age group of 75 or older, and showed higher values in the age group from 65 to 69 than age group 70 to 74. For senior center users and education, the SF-36 domain scale PF showed the lowest in the group of not school, and are higher in the group of middle school or more compared with the group of elementary school. The SF-36 domain scale GH for senior center users and present illness gave higher values in respondents with illness than in respondents without illness. All domain scales for senior center users and gender were higher in male than in female. The SF-36 domain scales PF and RP for senior center non-users and age showed the lowest in the age group 75 or older, and showed higher values in the age group from 65 to 69 than age group 70 to 74. For senior center non-users and education, the SF-36 domain scales RP, GH, VT, RE, and MH were low in the group of no education, and were higher in the group of middle school or more compared with the group of elementary school. All the domain scales of SF-36 for senior center non-users and presence of persons living with showed higher values. For BMI of non-users, BP was the lowest in 18.4 (kg/m2), and higher in 18.5-24.9 (kg/m2) than in 25.0 or more (kg/m2). For physical activity levels of non-users, PF, RP, RE, VT, SF, RE, and MH of SF-36 were higher in the population with low physical activity levels than in the population with higher physical activity levels. All the domain scales of SF-36 for non-users and present illness showed higher values in the population with illness than the population without illness.

III. Relationship of the State of Senior Center on HRQOL

These results are based on comparisons between certain demographic variables (gender, education, family status, and monthly income) [23-25] and health-related variables (physical activities and present illness that affect SF-36 scores) [26-28]. Physically, it was found that users of senior centers had significantly higher physical functionality and role-physical (F=4.87, p=0.027 and F=7.02, p=0.009, respectively), and mentally, too, the users had significantly higher levels of vitality at F=7.48, p=0.007 (Table 3).

Table 3

Adjusted HRQOL measures in respondents among use of senior centers (Mean±SD)

HRQOL : health related quality of life scale.

Comparison in multidimensional scales SF-36 (short form-36) among use of senior center with covariate of gender, monthly income, education, live with, physical activity, present illness.

DISCUSSION

This study aimed at identifying the effects of using senior centers on senior citizens' HRQOL while taking into account aspects both physical and mental. After adjusting for demographic and health-related factors, the users of senior centers, more than the non-users, showed higher scores in physical function, role physical, and vitality. Based on these results, it seems safe to assume that using the centers benefits senior citizens in terms of HRQOL not only physically but mentally as well.

In terms of physical wellbeing, this study confirmed previous research reporting a positive correlation. Senior center users score higher in physical functionality and role physical. Studies conducted in countries other than in Korea have shown, for instance, that step-counts [35], muscular strength, and balance [36] are higher among users of senior centers that offer resistance training and exercise. In general, research using SF-36 has shown that people who live active lives score higher for physical wellness. [30]. This study supports those findings.

Furthermore, this study revealed that senior center users enjoy higher mental wellness, measured in terms of HRQOL as vitality, than non-users. Previous studies conducted in countries other than in Korea have shown that the use of senior centers can improve psychological wellbeing, help alleviate depression [37], foster friendships and social interaction [38], and reduce stress levels [39]. Indeed, senior citizens report that active participation in these social activities improves their psychological QOL because the activities add pleasure to their lives. The results of this study confirm as much, that there is a positive correlation between utilizing senior centers and mental HRQOL.

Although senior center users scored higher than non-users in the previously mentioned categories, there was no significant statistical difference found for certain physical aspects such as BP or GH. Perhaps this was because a particularly healthy group of senior citizens took part in this study. The percentage of chronic disease morbidity among users was 26.0% and among non-users was 33.6%. These percentages were lower than those reported by the Insurance Welfare Family Department [23], and thus healthier than average subjects may have affected these results. Regardless, the overall percentage of chronic disease morbidity in Korea is high, and subjective recognition of healthiness remains low [23]. Chronic illness prevention and health promotion programs at senior centers must be modified, perhaps to include a nurse or specialist or to involve local public healthcare centers, to serve the diverse needs specific to seniors.

Some miscellaneous differences between users and non-users should also be noted. Most demographic variables coincide with the results of earlier studies on HRQOL. Users showed higher over SF-36 scores than non-users. Old age is indicative of poorer physical health, yet better mental health [24]. Participants living alone reported poor HRQOL [25]. Higher educational attainment was associated with better HRQOL [24]. Being underweight or obese leads to considerably poorer HRQOL [29]. The HRQOL scores were higher in individuals with lower physical activity levels than in those with higher physical activity levels [31]. Moreover, no relationship was found between the subscales of mental wellbeing, for instance, mental health, role emotional, and social functioning. Further research is necessary to determine the independent impact on HRQOL of particular cultural and educational programs offered by senior centers. And overall, we conclude that there must be more discussion of business models and institutional organizations that successfully improve, both mentally and physically, the HRQOL and long-term health care needs of the growing population of our senior citizens.

Lastly, here are some limitations to this study. First, the findings were derived from a cross-sectional population. Therefore, the causation between senior center utilization and HRQOL may not be strictly inferred. An intervention study would be necessary for confirming a causal relationship. Second, this study relies heavily on physical aspects like present illness and BMI in determining overall HRQOL. Mental aspects in and of themselves were not isolated. Evidence of depression, which is increasingly common in elderly populations, should be given more weight and attention. Third, some social element, as recognized in the SF-36, seems relevant to gaining a complete picture of HRQOL. How much social support are these senior citizens receiving and how does it affect their social functionality? Fourth, this study used data collected through face-to-face interviews not self-reporting. However skilled the interviewers, differences may arise because of the format. Moreover, older people tend to over- and under-report depending on the time and place of the interview. QOL may thus contain over-reporting, a tendency more frequent to face-to-face interviews. Response time also seems to influence the respondents' feelings on quality of life issues. To minimize the effects of these limitations, in-depth interviews may be more effective for research targeted at senior centers.

The present study showed that the users of the senior centers have higher physical functioning, role-physical and vitality compared with the non-users. These findings suggest that although the results are unable to give specific causal relationships, using a senior center may lead to some health related benefits for quality of life. This study demonstrated that the use of senior centers is related to the health-related QOL thus the use of senior centers will affect the health of older adults. To promote the use of senior centers in future, it is necessary to identify mental, social, and environmental aspects affecting the behavior of non-users. Therefore, form plans for promoting the uses of senior centers are needed. Moreover, formulating strategies promoting the participation of non-profit group are necessary.