Influential factors of health self-management and perceived self-efficacy in community elders

ObjectiveTo analyze the influential factors of health self-management and general self-efficacy among community elders in Tangshan city and to provide scientific basis to improve community health self-management.MethodsInvestigations were carried out among 1 500 elderly people aged 60 years and above in communities of Tang shan city using a self-designed general demographic questionnaire,Adult Health Self-Management Skills Assessment Scale(AHSMSRS) and General Self-Efficacy Scale(GSES).ResultsThe score for health self-management behavior,health self-management environment,and health self-management awareness were 54.87±9.506,40.36±7.352,and 61.65±6.207,respectively,and the general self-efficacy score was 25.09±5.893 among the elderly.Multiple linear regression analyses showed that marital status,whether having fixed income,health status,and education level were influential factors of health self-management behavior,health self-management environment,and health self-management awareness in the community elders with statistical significance(P<0.05).Gender,whether having fixed income,health status,and education were influential factors of the general self-efficacy in the community elders,with statistical significance(P<0.05).ConclusionHealth self-management and general self-efficacy of the community elderly in Tangshan are at midium and high level and are influenced by complex factors.Special concern should be paid to community-based health management.