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The ‘Healthy Passport’ intervention with older people in an English urban environment: effects of incentives and peer-group organisers in promoting healthy living

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2008

CAROL A. HOLLAND ,
PAULINE EVERITT ,
ANGELA JOHNSON  and
REENA DEVI
CAROL A. HOLLAND*
Affiliation:
School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
PAULINE EVERITT
Affiliation:
Agewell, West Bromwich, West Midlands, UK.
ANGELA JOHNSON
Affiliation:
Sandwell Primary Care Trust, West Bromwich, West Midlands, UK.
REENA DEVI
Affiliation:
School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Carol Holland, Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. E-mail: c.holland1@aston.ac.uk
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Abstract

This paper reports the evaluation of the effectiveness of incentives (viz. points and prizes) and of peer-group organisers (‘older people's champions') in the outcomes of a health-improvement programme for people aged 50+ years in a multi-ethnic district of the West Midlands, England. Health promotion activities were provided, and adherence, outcome variables and barriers to adherence were assessed over six months, using a ‘passport’ format. Those aged in the fifties and of Asian origin were under represented, but people of Afro-Caribbean origin were well represented and proportionately most likely to stay in the project. Those of greater age and with more illness were most likely to drop out. There were significant improvements in exercise, diet and the uptake of influenza vaccines and eyesight tests, but slighter improvements in wellbeing. Positive outcomes related to the incentives and to liking the format. The number of reported barriers was associated with lower involvement and lack of change, as was finding activities too difficult, the level of understanding, and transport and mobility problems, but when these were controlled, age did not predict involvement. Enjoying the scheme was related to positive changes, and this was associated with support from the older people's champions.

Keywords

health promotioninterventionolder adultsincentivespeer-group organisers
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , May 2008 , pp. 525 - 549
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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