Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of the participants (pre-intervention) who completed both pre- and post-intervention questionnaires (n = 316).
| Characteristics | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | |
| <50 | 12 (3.8%) |
| 50–59 | 39 (12.3%) |
| 60–69 | 123 (38.9%) |
| 70–79 | 104 (32.9%) |
| ≥80 | 29 (9.1%) |
| No Response | 9 (2.8%) |
| Gender | |
| Female | 196 (62.0%) |
| Male | 115 (36.4%) |
| No Response | 5 (1.6%) |
| Live Alone | |
| Yes | 56 (17.7%) |
| No | 235 (74.4%) |
| No Response | 25 (7.9 %) |
| Country of Birth | |
| Australia | 51 (16.1%) |
| Mainland China | 78 (24.7%) |
| India | 71 (22.5%) |
| Hong Kong | 34 (10.8%) |
| Turkey | 33 (10.4%) |
| Sri Lanka | 25 (7.9%) |
| Other | 19 (6.0 %) |
| No Response | 5 (1.6%) |
| English Spoken at Home | |
| Yes | 88 (27.8%) |
| No | 222 (70.3%) |
| No Response | 6 (1.9%) |
| Education Level | |
| Primary School or Less | 32 (10.1%) |
| High School (not completed) | 38 (12.0%) |
| High School (completed) | 66 (20.9%) |
| TAFE/Trade | 42 (13.3%) |
| Undergraduate | 87 (27.5%) |
| Postgraduate | 17 (5.4%) |
| No Response | 34 (10.8%) |
| Employment | |
| Working / Studying | 14 (4.4%) |
| Home duties | 39 (12.3%) |
| Retired | 148 (46.8%) |
| Ill / Permanently unable to work | 10 (3.2%) |
| Other | 17 (5.4%) |
| No response | 88 (27.8%) |
| Illness (participants could list more than one condition) | |
| Arthritis | 120 (38.0%) |
| Diabetes | 94 (29.7%) |
| Back pain | 92 (29.1%) |
| Heart problems | 86 (27.2%) |
| Depression / Anxiety | 68 (21.5%) |
| Other | 160 (50.6%) |
| No response | 28 (8.6%) |
| Private health insurance | |
| Yes | 108 (34.2%) |
| No | 185 (58.5%) |
| No Response | 23 (7.3%) |
| Have Healthcare Card a | |
| Yes | 230 (72.7%) |
| No | 59 (18.7%) |
| No Response | 27 (8.5%) |
| Attended Hospital Emergency in the Past 12 Months | |
| Yes | 65 (20.6%) |
| No | 164 (51.9%) |
| No Response | 87 (27.5%) |
| Required help completing Questionnaire | |
| Yes | 46 (14.6%) |
| No | 247 (78.2%) |
| No Response | 23 (7.3%) |
| Teaching Group | |
| Arabic | 6 (1.9%) |
| ATSI | 26 (8.2%) |
| Australian and New Zealander | 4 (1.3%) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 57 (18.0%) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 54 (17.1%) |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 9 (2.8%) |
| English | 22 (7.0%) |
| Filipino (Tagalong) | 1 (0.3%) |
| Hindi | 63 (19.9%) |
| Indian (English) | 12 (3.8%) |
| Multicultural | 4 (1.3%) |
| Tamil | 25 (7.9%) |
| Turkish | 33 (10.4%) |
a. Health Care Cards are issued by the Australian Department of Human Services to people who live in Australia and already receive government payments, benefits or allowances.