HEALTH-PROBLEMS AND HEALTH ACTIONS AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS - RESULTS OF A HEALTH DIARY STUDY

This study examined the health problems and health actions reported by a sample of older adults (N = 60) who maintained health diaries over a 4-week period. The diary sample was 78% (n = 47) White; 52% (n = 31) were women, with a mean age of 75 years (SD = 5.3). Content analysis was used to examine the types of health problems reported in the diari es, which health problems were likely to be considered an illness, and what health actions were reported. Respondents reported an average of four different types of health problems over the 4-week diary period. There were differences in symptom reports related to gender, age, or race, The most frequently reported health problems were musculoskeleta l problems (n = 38), runny nose and respiratory problems (n = 24), gas trointestinal problems (n = 22), and headaches (n = 22). Only 36% of a ll health problems were considered to be illnesses. Subjects recorded a number of health actions in response to their health complaints, inc luding over-the-counter (OTC) medication use (83%), prescription medic ation use (53%), self-care activities (72%), and professional consulta tion (43%). Specific strategies that subjects used to deal with variou s health problems, implications of the findings, and the usefulness of health diaries as a clinical tool are discussed. Copyright (C) 1998 b y W.B. Saunders Company.