Elderly women’s experience of the role of hydrotherapy in health: Content analysis

Abstract

Living to an old age is considered by many elderly women to bring about a decreased quality of life. Hydrotherapy allows individuals to engage in certain physical activities that cannot be done outside the water. The purpose of this study was to explore elderly women’s experience of the role of hydrotherapy in their health and was conducted in selected pools of Guilan province in Iran in 2015-2016. Twenty-three elderly women were selected using a purposeful sampling strategy. The data was gathered through semi-structured interviews; Researchers used a qualitative design, based on a content analysis approach. Analysis results were identified as 3 main themes and 12 subthemes. Improved physical health: reduced consumption of painkillers, improved balance, pleasant breathing, easy menopause; Moving toward ability: increased independence, role fulfillment, application of efficient strategies, will to health; Psychological and social relief: sense of liveliness, reduced stress, peaceful sleep and re-emergence in society. “Competence development” was identified as the central code. Results indicate that participation in hydrotherapy by elderly women supported the benefit of advising them to participate in hydrotherapy sessions, as well as government’s cooperation with regard to creating proper conditions for improving the health and life quality of this valuable population.