LONGITUDINAL EFFECTS OF PREVENTIVE SERVICES ON HEALTH BEHAVIORS AMONGAN ELDERLY COHORT

This study examines the longitudinal (48 months) effects of a preventi ve services intervention trial with Medicare beneficiaries. The health promotion intervention incorporated a series of workshops and targete d individualized counseling dealing primarily with nutrition and exerc ise. All subjects completed a health risk appraisal (HRA) questionnair e, which served as a dependent measure. Results show significant, posi tive changes in intervention subjects in two activity outcomes, aerobi c activity and stretching exercises. Although previous research on thi s cohort found significant positive changes in nutrition behaviors at 12-month follow-up, these differences were not sustained over the thre e-year follow-up period. The results offer encouragement that continue d research on health promotion will eventually produce protocols for s elect activities that will improve the status of seniors' health.