Effects of Western–Oriental Combined Intervention on Cognitive Function, Health State, Depression, Social Support, and Life Satisfaction of Korean Older Adults

Objectives: The older adult population is increasing worldwide, especially South Korea. Development of Western and Oriental combined intervention for health management of the older adults and research to examine its effect are needed. This study was to examine the effects of Western–Oriental combined intervention (health education, Oriental breathing, qigong: paldangeum, Fumanet cognition/exercise, meridian acupressure, and sharing opinions) on cognitive function, health state, depression, social support, and life satisfaction of the older adults living in the community. Study Design: A quasiexperimental pretest–posttest control group design was employed. Methods: Study participants were a total of 68 aged 65 years or older residing in Seoul, South Korea (intervention: n = 34 and C\control: n = 34). Western–Oriental combined intervention was applied as twice a week, 90 min per session, for 20 sessions for 10 weeks. Measures included Mini-Mental State Examination, Korean version older adult health state evaluation scale, the shortened Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale, social support scale, and life satisfaction scale. Main Finding: The intervention group to which the Western–Oriental combined intervention was applied showed cognitive function, health state, depression, social support, and life satisfaction were statistically significantly improved than the control group without intervention. Conclusion: and Implication: This study suggests that the Western–Oriental combined intervention is an effective intervention method for improving cognitive function, health state, depression, social support, and life satisfaction of the older adults living in the community. In the practice, health professionals or nurses can use the Western–Oriental combined intervention for health management of the older adults living in community.