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Aim This aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the utilisation of general health examinations and health and a healthy lifestyle. Methods The data were from a 5-wave panel of older Taiwanese people. Health was defined as the absence of chronic diseases and physical function difficulties. A healthy lifestyle included no smoking, no alcohol consumption and engaging in regular exercise. Generalised linear modelling was applied. Results The individuals with more chronic diseases were more likely to undergo health examinations, but the rate of change declined over time. Having more physical function disabilities may reduce the likelihood of undergoing health examinations. Individuals who engaged in regular exercise were more likely to undergo health examinations. Conclusion Health examination utilisation is related to health and healthy lifestyle among older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The significance of physical activity has been noticed. However, the dynamic change and the heterogeneity of physical activity patterns among older people are little explored. Purpose: This study aimed to identify the trajectory patterns of engaging in physical activity over time and its related factors. Method: Nationally representative four-wave panel data from Taiwanese older adults, gathered between 1996 and 2007, were used ( n = 4,018). The participants ranged in age from 50 to 96 years old. 'Being physically active' was defined as performing physical activity in sports or exercises at least three times per week and lasting for at least 30 min each time. Group-based trajectory analysis was performed for analyzing the data. Results: Four trajectory patterns were identified: inactive (47.83 %), decreasing (12.21 %), increasing (23.36 %), and active (16.60 %). Older respondents and those with more education were more likely to be active. Those respondents having more depressive symptoms, having more physical functional limitations, and having jobs were less likely to be physically active in the decreasing, increasing, and active patterns. Conclusion: There is heterogeneity among the trajectory patterns of physical activity across time in the older adults. Different strategies of physical activity promotion for the older people should be developed by the group characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study examined the relationships between health literacy, self-efficacy and preventive care utilization among older adults in Taiwan. Methods: The data were from a longitudinal survey, 'Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging' in 2003 and 2007. A total of 3479 participants who completed both two waves were included for analysis. Health literacy first was constructed through education, cognitive function and disease knowledge through structural equation modeling (SEM); then, the associations of health literacy to later self-efficacy and preventive care were examined. Results: The model fit of SEM was good, indicating that the construct of health literacy was appropriate. Healthy literacy showed a moderate positive effect on self-efficacy and a small positive effect on preventive care utilization. Conclusions: Health literacy increases self-efficacy and utilization of preventive care. Promoting people's health knowledge and health literacy is suggested. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 70-76. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]