[Utilizing the PRECEDE model to predict health examination behavior of the elderly]

Health examination of the elderly in Taiwan, the reported rates of health examination of the elderly were always below 30%. In order to explore the predictors related to the behavior of health examination of the elderly, the PRECEDE model was adopted for this study. Both the 1200 participants and spare samples were recruited from eleven districts of Kaohsiung city. 1193 participants had been completed by home interview. Sample size was based on the distribution of the elderly in the whole city and the stratified sampling method was applied. There was no significant difference after comparing the rates of gender, age, and examination between sample and population. The results showed that seven factors could be used to predict the behavior of health examination of the elderly. In the individual predisposing factors, "numbers of chronic diseases", "knowledge of health examination", "previous health examination", and "health promotion behavior" were related to the behavior of health examination of the elderly. In reinforcing factors, "attitude of family members for health examination", and in enabling factors "the guide and the convenience of health-examined services" also showed significantly affecting examination behavior. Therefore, referring to the improvement to be the examination rate, we can intervene or do something through academic, practical and administrative approaches.