The effectiveness of the information-motivation-behavioral skills model-based intervention on preventive behaviors against respiratory infection among community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model-based multi-component intervention on engagement and the quality of preventive behaviors against respiratory infections among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: This study was a controlled pretest-posttest study in which 91 community-dwelling older adults aged above 65 years were included. The intervention group (n = 42) received the six-week intervention theoretically based on the IMB model that comprised weekly group education and 5-10 min of tele-counseling per week.

Results: The results showed that, after the intervention, the improvement in the level of knowledge, self-efficacy, self-reported engagement, and the quality of respiratory infection preventive behaviors was significantly greater in the intervention group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups for the perceived threat of respiratory infection.

Conclusion: The IMB model-based intervention improved the engagement and quality of preventive behaviors by increasing the level of knowledge and self-efficacy in community-dwelling older adults.

Practice Implications: The IMB model-based multi-component intervention can be an effective approach to improve preventive behaviors and will contribute to the preparation of communities for outbreaks of respiratory infections.