Benefits of Daily Occupational Diary Use 3 Months After a Health Promotion Program for Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

IMPORTANCE

To enable community-dwelling older adults to continue to live satisfying lives, a feasible health promotion program is needed that consists of relatively few sessions and can be implemented over a brief period.

OBJECTIVE

To verify the relationship between a short-duration group program using an occupational diary and changes in satisfaction with occupation, a sense that life is worth living, and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older adults 3 mo after program cessation and to identify factors associated with changes in satisfaction with occupation after the program.

DESIGN

Before-and-after comparison study and case-control study.

SETTING

Public university in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling older adults (N = 144).

INTERVENTION

Four weekly group sessions and daily occupational diary keeping.

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Activity and Daily Life Satisfaction Scale for the Elderly, K-I Scale for the Feeling that Life is Worth Living among the Aged, and Life Satisfaction Index-Z.

RESULTS

Scores 3 mo postprogram were significantly higher than the pretest scores. Continued use of the diary was selected as a factor associated with changes in participants' satisfaction with occupation after the program.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The program may improve satisfaction with occupation, a sense that life is worth living, and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older adults 3 mo after conclusion. Continued use of the diary may increase the possibility of maintaining or improving older adults' satisfaction with occupation beyond the duration of the program. What This Article Adds: The program consists of a small number of sessions and can be implemented in a short period. Occupational therapists can include it as an option for promoting the health of community-dwelling older adults.