Using participatory action research to provide health promotion for disadvantaged elders in Shaanxi province, China.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the study were to (a) determine health promotion issues concerning disadvantaged elders, (b) identify social, economic, environmental, and personal factors that adversely influence disadvantaged elders' health, and (c) enable various stakeholders working within a coordinated framework to promote health among elders.


METHODS
A participatory action research (PAR) model was used over a 2-year period in a remote disadvantaged rural village in Shaanxi province, China.


METHODS
Participants were 20 elders and 5 local administrators including government officers and village leaders.


RESULTS
Three themes were identified, including (a) health is the absence of illness and the ability to sustain self-sufficiency; (b) diseases are inevitable among elders; and (c) cost is the key barrier to accessing health services. Action plans were developed and plans were implemented by the participants and project team.


CONCLUSIONS
The project demonstrated that PAR is an optimum research method, which allows researchers to facilitate collaboration with all participants through research and supports democratic dialogue and deliberation through the participation process. Interpersonal relationship skills of researchers are crucially important in building cooperation among all stakeholders. Local government mobilization is essential for successful implementation and sustainability of the project.
Liu
Ming
M
School of Health Science, Macao Polytechnic Institute, Andar, Macao, SAR, China. Karryliu2002@yahoo.com
Gao
Rui
R
Pusari
Nirmala
N
D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D019035:Rural Health Services