title: The evaluation of a culturally appropriate, community-based lifestyle intervention program for elderly Chinese immigrants with chronic diseases: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 'Healthy Habits Program' is a 6-month community-based program, which offers exercise facilities, training and weekly health education group to underserved elderly Chinese Americans with chronic medical diseases in their native languages. This pilot study evaluates the acceptability and the health effects of the 'Healthy Habits Program'.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine subjects participated in the 'Healthy Habits Program' in 2011. Before and after the program, the participants were assessed in their physical and mental health using various fitness tests as well as measures of disability and psychological functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants provided overwhelmingly positive feedback on the program, which was associated with significant improvements in physical and mental health including a significant decrease in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and increase in stamina. The participants reported lower mean scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item Scale (PHQ-9), indicating improved psychological well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These promising pilot study results from this lifestyle intervention program for elderly Chinese American immigrants with chronic diseases inform the design of a more definitive trial using a randomized design and larger sample size.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Moneika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dipierro
authors.forename: Lingjun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yeung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
keywords: Chinese Americans; chronic diseases; community-based; elderly; treatment