THE ROLE OF NURSES IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND DISEASE PREVENTION AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE IN AMAI COMMUNITY

TOPIC: THE ROLE OF NURSES IN HEALTH EDUCATION AND DISEASE PREVENTION AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE IN AMAI COMMUNITY

THIS TOPIC IS ALSO SUITABLE FOR:
1. Department of Nursing Science
2. Department of Public Health
3. Department of Health Education
4. Department of Community Health
This research material contains:
1-Chapter One to Five
2-Recent References/citations
3-Tables/Charts/Graphs in Chapter Four
4-Accurate Data Analysis
5-Table of Contents
6-Questionnare

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine the role of nurses in health education and disease prevention among elderly people in Amai Community. The study was specifically carried out to assess the level of health education provided by nurses to elderly people in Amai Community, examine the role of nurses in promoting disease prevention practices among elderly people in Amai Community, determine the influence of nurses' health education on the health-seeking behaviour of elderly people in Amai Community and evaluate the effectiveness of nurses' health education programmes in preventing common diseases among elderly people in Amai Community. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. Hence, the questionnaire was used for data collection, while the data collected were analyzed using frequency tables and percentages. The hypotheses were tested using Pearson Chi-square statistical technique. The study population consisted of 100 elderly people in Amai Community, while a sample size of 66 validated respondents selected through a multi-stage sampling technique involving stratified and convenience sampling techniques was used for the study. From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that nurses provided a moderate level of health education to elderly people with a combined agreement of 65.2% on regular health education activities. The study also showed that nurses played a significant role in promoting disease prevention practices among elderly people with a Pearson Chi-square result of r = 0.612, t = 6.180, p = 0.013. Furthermore, the findings revealed that nurses' health education significantly influenced the health-seeking behaviour of elderly people at r = 0.684, t = 7.490, p = 0.009. The study further revealed that nurses' health education programmes were significantly effective in preventing common diseases among elderly people at r = 0.657, t = 6.970, p = 0.011. The study therefore recommends that nurses should organize regular community-based health education programmes for elderly people, while government and relevant health agencies should provide adequate support, training, and resources to strengthen community health education and disease prevention activities.
Keywords: Nurses, Health Education, Disease Prevention, Elderly People, Health-Seeking Behaviour, Amai Community.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION (Preview)
1.1 Background to the Study
Population ageing has become a significant global demographic phenomenon, with increasing attention directed towards promoting healthy ageing through preventive healthcare and health education. With a longer life expectancy, functional independence, disease prevention and increasing the quality of life for older adults are taking on a greater significance. In this context, the role of nurses has become prominent in providing health education, promoting healthy lifestyles, early detection of disease and helping elderly people take care of themselves. The focus of ageing research today is on prevention, health promotion and community-based integrated services as key pillars for healthy ageing, according to Fang et al. (2020). In the same vein, Ferreira et al. (2022) argue that nursing practice cannot only be about cure, but should also be about the ongoing promotion of health and prevention of diseases through structured educational interventions. To support this, Gurné et al. (2022) state that nurses in primary healthcare environments are active participants in empowering individuals with health information which can lead to effective health choices during the ageing journey. For this reason, health education has become an integral and vital part of nursing today as it helps to provide elderly individuals with knowledge and confidence in better health and wellbeing.
Building upon this global perspective, health education provided by nurses has increasingly been recognized as an effective strategy for disease prevention among elderly populations. Health education is planned communication to enhance knowledge, shape positive attitudes and motivate behaviours that lessen health risks and improve health. According to Fitri et al. (2025), provision of health education on a regular basis is very important to increase awareness of preventive steps for older adults who are easily susceptible to the common non-communicable diseases. Similarly, Noer et al (2023) argue that health education programmes, which are carried out regularly, along with routine health screening contribute to positive health consciousness among elderly persons. Building on this knowledge, Ong et al. (2021) show that nurse-led educational interventions directed at fall prevention can lead to increased awareness and decreased exposure to preventable falls in community-dwelling older adults. In another aspect, da Silva Tiago Horta (2024) states that nurses play a significant role in fall prevention education, focusing on environmental safety, mobility, nutrition, and medication adherence. All of these provide an insight into the fact that nursing health education is not only a carrier of knowledge dissemination, but also an effective medium for maintaining healthy ageing in the way of preventive health care.
In addition, the success of health education is greatly influenced by the professional capacity of nurses and their competence in disseminating health education information to elderly people, which can facilitate behavioural change. The role of community engagement, patient-centred communication and evidence-based education is becoming a core part of the nursing practice, and all are integral to disease prevention. Toniolo et al. (2024) reported that nurses in various healthcare environments have increasingly important roles in the prevention and management of NCDs, especially in health education, counseling, and regular monitoring of patients. Supporting this stance, Wang et al. (2024) add that geriatric nursing skills encompass health assessment, health promotion, preventive counseling, and personalized education according to the individual needs of the elderly. In the same way, Suleman et al. (2025) argue that nurses' competence can be strengthened through health education, which will boost their ability to positively influence patients' health behaviours and outcomes of disease prevention. Similarly, Senadheera et al. (2026) highlight that public health nursing practice is more and more incorporating health education and community involvement to attain sustainable enhancement in inhabitants health. Such advances further support the role of nurses as educators whose professional knowledge and skills play a major role in the provision of preventive health care.
The increasing awareness of preventive healthcare has also had an impact on the delivery of healthcare in developing countries like Nigeria, where nurses continue to be the most readily available healthcare workers in the community. Their constant contact with individuals and families puts them in prime position to offer health education, promote healthy lifestyles, and reinforce health-seeking behavior of the elderly persons. According to Robinson-Mbato (2024), preventative nursing and community engagement are important strategies for enhancing health care outcomes in a sustained health promotion process. Likewise, Tajudeen et al., (2023) state that health talks that are provided by healthcare workers on a regular basis play a vital role in the prevention of diseases by enhancing the public understanding of healthy practices. Moreover, Akingunola et al. (2024) note that access to healthcare services and regular contact with healthcare providers affect healthcare utilization among elderly Nigerians with chronic diseases. In support of this, Bello and Anas (2022) state that illness behaviour of the elderly is an indication of their health beliefs, knowledge and health-seeking behaviours. In spite of these national developments, community-based nursing education still plays an important role in enhancing the prevention of health problems and promoting health-related decision-making among older people. Considering the above, the study concentrates on Amai Community where nurses are an integral part of health education to promote disease prevention and encourage positive health seeking behaviour to enable healthy ageing for the elderly through providing community based health care services.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
The promotion of healthy ageing depends largely on the availability of effective health education and disease prevention interventions delivered by healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, who serve as the primary providers of preventive care at the community level. The health education of elderly persons should be performed regularly so that they can have sufficient knowledge on healthy lifestyle, detection of common diseases at an early stage, taking medicines as prescribed, nutrition, exercise, and proper health-seeking behaviour, which will help in minimizing common age-related diseases and their complications. But existing evidence indicates that many older people still do not get enough preventive health care and don't use the health care they have available. Bello and Anas (2022) found that health awareness and health beliefs have an effect on illness behaviour of the elderly and Akingunola et al. (2024) reported differences in health care utilization among elderly Nigerians with chronic illnesses. In addition, Ola-Akinlalu (2024) highlighted the need for preventive measures in the care of older people as a means to promote healthy ageing, while Toniolo et al. (2024) pointed out that nurses play a pivotal role in preventing NCDs by conducting health education and providing ongoing support to patients. These findings highlight the need to gain a greater understanding of the level of nurse's roles and responsibilities in health education and disease prevention in the community for elderly people.
Existing studies have examined different dimensions of nursing practice and health education, including preventive nursing (Robinson-Mbato, 2024), health education interventions among the elderly (Fitri et al., 2025), district nurses' health-promotive roles (Gurné et al., 2022), and strategies for strengthening nurses' competence in health education (Suleman et al., 2025). Likewise, research has been conducted on healthcare workers' disease prevention practices (Tajudeen et al., 2023) and the prevention health education in various healthcare settings (Noer et al., 2023). These studies offer important information on nursing functions and on the prevention of ill health, but mostly on a larger health care system, institutional level or other populations than on Amai Community. For this reason, there is not much empirical evidence specifically looking at the level of health education offered by nurses, their roles as disease prevention agents, the impact of health education on the health seeking behaviour of elderly persons and the effectiveness of their health education programmes within Amai Community. This context knowledge gap is the one the present study aims at filling with the empirical data on the role of nurses in health education and disease prevention among elderly people in Amai Community, to contribute to the understanding of community-based geriatric nursing practice and preventive healthcare.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the role of nurses in health education and disease prevention among elderly people in Amai Community.
The specific objectives are to:
1.Assess the level of health education provided by nurses to elderly people in Amai Community.
2.Examine the role of nurses in promoting disease prevention practices among elderly people in Amai Community.
3.Determine the influence of nurses' health education on the health-seeking behaviour of elderly people in Amai Community.
4.Evaluate the effectiveness of nurses' health education programmes in preventing common diseases among elderly people in Amai Community.
Other parts of chapter one include:
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Research Hypotheses
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW (Preview)
This chapter critically examines relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and, furthermore, recognizes the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps. This chapter, therefore, focuses on the concept of nursing, the concept of health education, the concept of disease prevention, the health needs of elderly people, the role of nurses in health education among elderly people, and the role of nurses in disease prevention among elderly people, with particular reference to Amai Community etc. The chapter is sub-grouped into the following major headings
2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review
2.4 Summary of Literature Review

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY (Preview)
Presented below is a snapshot of key areas of the study methodology, the full and detail chapter three methodology is contained in the instant download document.

Research Design: The study adopted a descriptive research design.
Population of the Study: The population of the study comprised elderly people residing in Amai Community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
Sample Size Determination: The study adopted the Taro Yamane formula to determine a sample size of 80 participants.
Sampling Technique: The study employed a multi-stage sampling technique, stratified sampling technique, and convenience sampling technique to select the individual respondents.
Research Instrument: The study utilized a structured questionnaire titled “The Role of Nurses in Health Education and Disease Prevention among Elderly People in Amai Community” as the instrument for data collection.
Methods of Data Analysis: The collected data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages to summarize and present the demographic characteristics of the respondents and their responses. Inferential statistics, such as Pearson Chi-square, were used to test the hypotheses.
Full outline for chapter three;
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Research Setting
3.3 Target Population
3.4 Sample Size
3.5 Sampling Technique
3.6 Instruments For Data Collection
3.7 Validity and Reliability of Instrument
3.8 Pilot Study
3.9 Method of Data Collection
3.10 Method Of Data Analysis
3.11 Ethical considerations

CHAPTER FOUR:DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
MAJOR FINDINGS (Preview)
The analysis results were presented in tables and charts. Based on the results obtained from the analysis, the following major findings were made:

i. The study found that nurses provide health education to elderly people in Amai Community on healthy lifestyle practices, routine medical check-ups, disease prevention, and healthy habits that promote their overall well-being. This is evidenced by the majority of respondents agreeing that nurses regularly provide relevant health education and organize beneficial health education sessions for elderly people in the community.

ii. The study found that nurses play a significant role in promoting disease prevention practices among elderly people in Amai Community. The corresponding hypothesis test showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.612, t-value of 6.180, and p-value of 0.013 (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis.

iii. The study found that nurses' health education significantly influences the health-seeking behaviour of elderly people in Amai Community by encouraging prompt medical attention, compliance with prescribed medications, routine medical screening, and the adoption of preventive healthcare practices. The corresponding hypothesis test showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.684, t-value of 7.490, and p-value of 0.009 (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis.

iv. The study found that nurses' health education programmes are significantly effective in preventing common diseases among elderly people in Amai Community by improving disease prevention knowledge, promoting healthier behaviours, and increasing awareness of preventive healthcare practices. The corresponding hypothesis test showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.657, t-value of 6.970, and p-value of 0.011 (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis.

CHAPTER FIVE:DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This chapter covers the following outline:
5.1 Discussion of Findings    
5.2 Implications of the Findings
5.3 Limitations of the Study
5.4 Summary 
5.5 Conclusion
5.6 Recommendations
5.7 Suggestions for Further Studies
Reference
Appendix

UPLOADED BY MIRACLE