title: Demographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with non-willingness to participate in health promotion programmes among adults of a lower socioeconomic status in Singapore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lower socioeconomic groups have been found to have poorer health outcomes and engage in fewer health promoting behaviours. Understanding the reasons behind adverse lifestyle habits and non-willingness to participate in health promotion programmes among lower socioeconomic groups will enable administrators to modify the programmes and increase participation in this population. This study aimed to determine reasons for non-exercise, smoking and non-willingness to participate, and characteristics associated with non-willingness to participate in health promotion programmes among residents in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a purposive sample of residents living in four housing developments of one- and two-room households in Singapore from June to October 2009. The patterns of exercise and smoking, receptiveness towards health promotion programmes and the reasons for non-willingness to participate were elicited. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify differences between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred and seventy-eight responses were analysed. Only 36.1% of respondents were willing to participate in at least one health promotion programme (health screening, talk or workshop). Older respondents aged 45-64 years and more than 65 years were less likely to participate than their younger counterparts (18-44 years). Malays were more likely than Chinese to participate, and respondents who do not exercise were less likely to participate than respondents who exercise (regularly/occasionally). Reasons for non-willingness to participate were 'not interested' and 'no time'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health promotion messages should adapt to the needs and situation of the disadvantaged, to increase participation.
authors.affiliation: National Healthcare Group, Health Services & Outcomes Research, Singapore.
authors.forename: Charis Wei Ling
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Bee Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Joseph Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Lai Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Pradeep Paul
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D045808:Refusal to Participate; D012846:Singapore; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: health behaviour; health promotion; participation; socioeconomic status