Effectiveness and Practicality of Usik Wiwitan Relaxation to Improve Quality of Life in Elderly with Hypertension in West Java
Author(s): Siti Sugih Hartiningsih*, Budi Utomo, Rita Damayanti and Senol Dane
Abstract
Introduction: The quality of life of elderly people tend to decline with the increase of age. Some theories and evidence had shown that relaxation can improve the quality of life of the elderly. Usik Wiwitan (UWI) in West Java, which is the local wisdom of relaxation practice, has a potential to improve quality of life. This research is a field experiment with to assess the effectiveness and practicality of UWI in improving the quality of life of the elderly.
Method: Subjects were divided into two groups A and B randomly. The group A underwent the guided UWI for 10 weeks, while group B acted as controls. Measurement of quality of life in each group was performed at weeks 0, 5 and 10 using the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. The Generalized Estimating Equations analyses were used to evaluate the improved quality of life in repeated measurements. The confounding variables were socio-demographic factors and blood pressure.
Results: There was a decrease in systole and diastolic blood pressures after intervention in both groups. However, there were no differences in blood pressure in the two groups after the intervention program ended. UWI increased quality of life scores by 5 points at 5th week and 7 points at 10th week.
Conclusion: UWI is a simple method for the elderly and easy to do as well as entertaining and vastly improve the quality of life. UWI has the potential method for the elderly’s health programs.