Abstract
[Purpose] We developed and evaluated a specific health guidance program designed to help people recognize their strengths and find ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We also clarified the characteristics of subjects of specific health guidance in City A.
[Methods] The subjects were residents participating in a new specific health guidance program comprising five sessions. An anonymous questionnaire was conducted at the beginning and end of the program. It consisted of basic information, questions about lifestyle, SCAQ (Self-Care Agency Questionnaire), and an open-ended question about the program. Analysis was conducted using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. This study was conducted with approval from the ethics committee of the researchers’ affiliated university.
[Results] Of 329 subjects in the specific health guidance program, 92 participated in the program. The total number of respondents at the beginning was 56, with the collection rate being 60.8%."Intend to improve (roughly within 6 months)" was the most frequent response for eating habits and exercise habits, at 49.1% and 31.5%, respectively. Fourteen participants attended all five sessions. After excluding those with missing values, 11 participants were analyzed, but no significant improvement was observed in SCAQ. For eating and exercise habits, the number of respondents who chose "already working on improving (less than 6 months)" increased from 2 to 4. The reasons for their changes included "I used to be lenient with myself and never thought about improving my lifestyle, but my awareness has changed and I now think seriously about my body." One respondent who had chosen "not interested in improving" for eating and exercise habits changed to "intend to improve (roughly within 6 months)."
[Conclusion] Although an increasing trend was observed in the willingness to improve eating and exercise habits, the analyzed data size was too small to make a conclusive statement on the program’s effectiveness.
