Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of health communication in reducing perceived stress and stress-coping skills among older adults.
Design: Semi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test stages.
Setting: Malekan, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
Participants: The sample consisted of 102 older people.
Outcome Measures: Pre-tests were conducted for the intervention and control groups. During six months, communication techniques were facilitated by health ambassadors in the intervention group after acquiring the necessary skills, and then post-tests were performed for both groups (P=0.00). Ultimately, data were collected using sociodemographic characteristics, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations Questionnaire.
Results: A significant decrease in the level of perceived stress was observed in the intervention group compared to their baseline measurements, as well as in relation to the control group. However, a considerable increase in the mean of stress coping skills in the intervention group was reported in the task-oriented coping dimension and the avoidance dimension compared to before the intervention (P=0.00).
Conclusions: Health ambassadors, along with family members and peers, should take on a more prominent role in enhancing the relationships between older adults and others, with a focus on promoting effective communication within health programs.