Abstract

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the relationships among health concern, health practice and health status of the disabled. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out for 1,662 disabled persons in Taegu city from April to July, 1997. Results: Health concern had a significant and positive relationship with health practice(p<0.05) and health practice also had a significant and positive relationship with self-rated health status(p<0.05) in men and women. To determine the structural model of the Health concern, health practice, health status and sociodemographic variables, the covariance structural analysis was used. In men, age, economic status, medical security type, educational level and type of disability had significant direct effects on Health concern(T>2.0). Educational level and type of disability had significant direct effects on health practice(T>2.0). And Economic status, medical security type and job status had significant direct effects on health status(T>2.0). In women, economic status and educational level had significant direct effects on Health concern(T>2.0). However there was no variable which had a significant direct effect on health practice. Job status had a significant direct effect or health status(T>2.0). In men and women, health practice was significantly increased with increasing health concern and the more health practice, the higher health status(T>2.0). Conclusions: It is recommended that the institutional approach which improve the economic status of the disabled with understanding their behavior and attitude should be established to increase health status, in addition, the health policy for encouraging the disabled, such as health education, consulting and health promotion program, should be done.

Keywords

• Structural relationships;
• Health concern;
• Health practice;
• Health status;
• the Disabled