Longitudinal effects of preventive services on health behaviors among an elderly cohort.

This study examines the longitudinal (48 months) effects of a preventive services intervention trial with Medicare beneficiaries. The health promotion intervention incorporated a series of workshops and targeted individualized counseling dealing primarily with nutrition and exercise. All subjects completed a health risk appraisal (HRA) questionnaire, which served as a dependent measure. Results show significant, positive changes in intervention subjects in two activity outcomes, aerobic activity and stretching exercises. Although previous research on this cohort found significant positive changes in nutrition behaviors at 12-month follow-up, these differences were not sustained over the three-year follow-up period. The results offer encouragement that continued research on health promotion will eventually produce protocols for select activities that will improve the status of seniors' health.