Development of Items for Transitional Care Service and Outcome Indicators of Discharged Patients for Improvement in Quality of Care

Background@#In this study, with the aim of improving the quality of transitional care service for discharged patients, the Health Care Quality and Outcomes Indicators of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and National Health Service Outcomes Framework of the UK were applied to derive service items for provision and develop evaluation indicators under categories of effectiveness, safety, and patient-centeredness.Method: A scoping review was conducted to derive core concepts and evidence materials/data for transitional care service. For the derived items of transitional care service and evaluation indicators, a three-round Delphi study was conducted with experts in the fields of healthcare/ medicineursing/social welfare. @*Results@#First, as a result of the scoping review, components of transitional care service (assessment of need by period of transitional care service, multi-professional team, connection to community resources, etc.) and themes for outcome indicators (effectiveness, patient safety, patient-centeredness) were derived. Second, by classifying the items for assessment according to the hospitalization and transition period and conducting a Delphi study to derive service items for transitional care service, during the hospitalization period, presence/absence of a caregiver and need for a caregiver, activities of daily living, and necessity for home-based care services were identified as items of high priority. Regarding patient safety, risk of falls and fractures during hospitalization, and necessity for medication reconciliation were identified as the items of high importance. For the transition period, provision of education regarding adequate responses and handling of emergencies, provision of information and guidance on application of services for basic livelihood security program beneficiaries, and education for patient skills in self-management of health were derived as items of high priority. Third, for the derivation of outcome indicators for transitional care service, in the “effectiveness” category, the experts rated a reduction in the 30-day readmission rate as an item of high importance along with a decrease in emergency department visits, reduction in preventable admissions as indicators of high relevance. In terms of “patient safety,” a decrease in drug adverse reactions, and reduction in the incidence of falls and pressure ulcers were identified as indicators of high priority. Finally, for the category of “patient-centeredness,” patient experience assessment, level of service satisfaction reported by patients and their caregivers, and reducing burden on caregivers were identified as indicators of high priority. @*Conclusion@#This study suggest practical implications for the service with high relevance and necessity for transitional period. It also presented outcome indicators of transitional care service to contribute toward an improvement in the quality of care.

Associations Between Compliance With Non-pharmaceutical Interventions and Social-distancing Policies in Korea During the COVID-19 Pandemic / 예방의학회지

Objectives@#This study explored changes in individuals’ behavior in response to social distancing (SD) levels and the “no gatherings of more than 5 people” (NGM5) rule in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. @*Methods@#Using survey data from the COVID-19 Behavior Tracker, exploratory factor analysis extracted 3 preventive factors: maintenance of personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. Each factor was used as a dependent variable. The chi-square test was used to compare differences in distributions between categorical variables, while binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with high compliance with measures to prevent transmission. @*Results@#In men, all 3 factors were significantly associated with lower compliance. Younger age groups were associated with lower compliance with maintenance of personal hygiene and avoiding meeting people. Employment status was significantly associated with avoiding going out and avoiding meeting people. Residence in the capital area was significantly associated with higher compliance with personal hygiene and avoiding venturing out. Increasing SD levels were associated with personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. The NGM5 policy was not significantly associated with compliance. @*Conclusions@#SD levels, gender, age, employment status, and region had explanatory power for compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Strengthening social campaigns to inspire voluntary compliance with NPIs, especially focused on men, younger people, full-time workers, and residents of the capital area is recommended. Simultaneously, efforts need to be made to segment SD measures into substrategies with detailed guidance at each level.

Mediating Effects of Smartphone Utilization between Attitude and Willingness to Use Home-Based Healthcare ICT among Older Adults / 대한의료정보학회지

Objectives@#This study explored the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology (e.g., artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution), attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on older adults’ willingness to use home-based information and communication technology (ICT) for self-health management. @*Methods@#A phone survey was conducted among 300 older adults aged 65 or older in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea. A path analysis was performed to identify the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology, attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. Socioeconomic variables were used as control variables. @*Results@#Knowledge of new technology, but not attitudes towards technology use, had a direct impact on smartphone utilization skills. Attitude towards technology use and smartphone utilization skills showed significant effects on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. One standard unit change in attitudes towards technology use contributed to a 0.172 unit change in willingness (p = 0.001), and one standard unit change in smartphone utilization skills changed willingness by 0.246 units (p < 0.001). In addition, older adults with a higher education level and economic status, and lower self-related health status, were more willing to use home-based healthcare ICT. @*Conclusions@#These findings underscore the necessity of enhancing the smartphone utilization skills of older adults and attitudes towards technology use. Providing more user-friendly services and increasing smartphone utilization skills among older adults would contribute to willingness to use home-based ICT for healthcare management.

Associations Between Compliance With Non-pharmaceutical Interventions and Social-distancing Policies in Korea During the COVID-19 Pandemic / 예방의학회지

Objectives@#This study explored changes in individuals’ behavior in response to social distancing (SD) levels and the “no gatherings of more than 5 people” (NGM5) rule in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. @*Methods@#Using survey data from the COVID-19 Behavior Tracker, exploratory factor analysis extracted 3 preventive factors: maintenance of personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. Each factor was used as a dependent variable. The chi-square test was used to compare differences in distributions between categorical variables, while binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with high compliance with measures to prevent transmission. @*Results@#In men, all 3 factors were significantly associated with lower compliance. Younger age groups were associated with lower compliance with maintenance of personal hygiene and avoiding meeting people. Employment status was significantly associated with avoiding going out and avoiding meeting people. Residence in the capital area was significantly associated with higher compliance with personal hygiene and avoiding venturing out. Increasing SD levels were associated with personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. The NGM5 policy was not significantly associated with compliance. @*Conclusions@#SD levels, gender, age, employment status, and region had explanatory power for compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Strengthening social campaigns to inspire voluntary compliance with NPIs, especially focused on men, younger people, full-time workers, and residents of the capital area is recommended. Simultaneously, efforts need to be made to segment SD measures into substrategies with detailed guidance at each level.

Mediating Effects of Smartphone Utilization between Attitude and Willingness to Use Home-Based Healthcare ICT among Older Adults / 대한의료정보학회지

Objectives@#This study explored the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology (e.g., artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution), attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on older adults’ willingness to use home-based information and communication technology (ICT) for self-health management. @*Methods@#A phone survey was conducted among 300 older adults aged 65 or older in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea. A path analysis was performed to identify the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology, attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. Socioeconomic variables were used as control variables. @*Results@#Knowledge of new technology, but not attitudes towards technology use, had a direct impact on smartphone utilization skills. Attitude towards technology use and smartphone utilization skills showed significant effects on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. One standard unit change in attitudes towards technology use contributed to a 0.172 unit change in willingness (p = 0.001), and one standard unit change in smartphone utilization skills changed willingness by 0.246 units (p < 0.001). In addition, older adults with a higher education level and economic status, and lower self-related health status, were more willing to use home-based healthcare ICT. @*Conclusions@#These findings underscore the necessity of enhancing the smartphone utilization skills of older adults and attitudes towards technology use. Providing more user-friendly services and increasing smartphone utilization skills among older adults would contribute to willingness to use home-based ICT for healthcare management.

Development of a Transitional Care Model Program for Patients with Pneumonia, Asthma, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: In-depth Interviews with Readmitted Patients

Community-based health management policies are needed considering societal aging. We aimed to develop a transitional care model (TCM) program for patients with pneumonia, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. First, we conducted in-depth interviews with patients who were hospitalized, released, and readmitted for those three conditions to identify issues with the current hospitalization/discharge system and post-discharge processes. Next, we developed a new TCM program suited to the realities of the current medical environment. Interviews revealed problems including inadequate awareness of disease and health management; insufficient information exchange between patients, caregivers, and primary medical institutions; and absence/low usage of community-based care services. The investigation applying the new TCM program to patients and following up on readmission rates and life satisfaction after discharge is ongoing. Reviewing these results and conducting further studies in the future will allow improvements to the model.

Gap between Perceived eHealth Literacy and Ability to Use Online Cancer-Related Information

Background@#The effective evaluation of health information available online is an important skill. However, consumers' self-perceptions of their eHealth literacy levels do not reflect their actual capabilities. The goal of this experimental study of online search behavior is to identify differences between self-perceived eHealth literacy and actual ability to use the accuracy of cancer information available online. @*Methods@#Thirty-one adults participated in the study conducted on July 15 and 16, 2017. We first measured perceived eHealth literacy and then asked participants 5 questions concerning cancer. Bandicam (v3.3.0) and BrowsingHistoryView were used to record search behavior and uniform resource locators, respectively. A Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were performed. @*Results@#The results showed that participants most frequently searched for cancer information on blogs and café websites. Regarding search behavior, those who perceived higher knowledge in available resources tended to solve the given problem with significantly smaller number of webpages to answer a weight management question. Participants who perceived higher knowledge in helpfulness of information tended to use significantly smaller number of webpages to answer questions on red ginseng's preventive effects on caner and weight management. However, there was no proof that the high eHealth literacy group had significantly higher rates of correct answers than the low eHealth literacy group. Further, regarding cancer screening, the rates of correct answers were low for groups who considered their ability higher to find helpful resources and perceived higher knowledge in helpfulness of information. @*Conclusion@#There is a gap between perceived eHealth literacy and the actual ability to use online cancer-related information. To fundamentally improve eHealth literacy, it is important to evaluate the actual abilities concerning each eHealth literacy component and to provide customized education.

Evaluation of Food Labeling Policy in Korea: Analyzing the Community Health Survey 2014–2017

BACKGROUND: As Koreans adopt more Westernized diets, consumer demands for processed food products are growing. The Korean government implemented a food labeling system to help people reasonably choose processed foods. This study investigated the utilization of these food labels among Koreans, as well as demographic differences between users and non-users of food labels, ultimately presenting foundational data for strategies to enhance dietary lifestyles by facilitating the use of food labeling. METHODS: Data from the 2014–2017 Community Health Survey were used. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was performed to investigate whether food labeling awareness and utilization increase over time; a data mining technique called decision tree analysis was then used to examine the effects of sociodemographic factors on the use of food labeling for each of the 4 years. RESULTS: Food labeling awareness increased by 4.5% over 4 years; the Cochran–Armitage trend test showed that this increase was statistically significant (χ2 = 1,068.21; P < 0.001). Food labeling utilization increased significantly but marginally, by 0.3%, over 4 years (χ2 = 20.154; P < 0.001). Decision tree analysis showed that food labeling users comprised mainly women in their 30s–50s currently in graduate school or with a graduate degree; the non-user group comprised mainly divorced/widowed/separated people in their 70s who were elementary school grads or below. CONCLUSION: Education level, which could be related to health literacy, substantially affected the use of food labeling. Education level is a typical socioeconomic index, and if people who are less educated tend not to use food labeling, it can lead to health inequity. Thus, food labeling should be reformed with consideration of health literacy among the less-educated social classes. From a health communication perspective, images and pictures can boost consumers' understanding, which should be considered to improve comprehensibility of food labeling.

A Delphi study for the application of Korean Triage and Acuity Scale to children

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the opinions of experts to identify problems and prepare an improvement plan when applying the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) to pediatric patients in the emergency department. METHODS: The experts comprised 15 researchers at a pediatric emergency center designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and research team members of the Korean Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. The first survey was an open-ended question about the problems, application results, and remedies of applying KTAS to children through e-mail. The problems were categorized by topic, and degree of agreement was presented using a 9-point Likert scale. RESULTS: In the first survey, 67% of experts participated and 18 problems were identified. In the second survey, 73% of experts participated and eight problems were identified in four categories, validity, reliability, feasibility and other opinions. All experts pointed out that resources were not considered during pediatric triage in the KTAS. Ninety-one percent of experts said that peak expiratory flow rate measurement and Glasgow Coma Scale evaluation were unlikely to be feasible. Moreover, 91% experts were concerned that the triage level could be distorted if KTAS was interlocked with medical costs. Eighty-two percent of the respondents pointed to the high triage result of febrile children and the difference in pain score between the evaluators, etc. CONCLUSION: Based on the problems pointed out by experts and the reality of Korea's emergency departments, it is necessary to consider revision of KTAS for children.

The Associations of Online Health Information Search and eHealth Literacy with Perceived Information Usefulness: Analysis in the Context of Diet and Weight Control / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine (1) the patterns of online health information search with respect to seeking and scanning, and (2) how online search, along with eHealth literacy, predicts perceived information usefulness in the context of diet and weight control. METHODS: Online survey was conducted with 299 adults from the consumer panel recruited for the purpose of quality assessment of the Korean National Health Information Portal in 2016. We conducted paired sample t-test and multiple logistic regression to address the research questions. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and SAS ver. 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). RESULTS: Of the respondents, 38.8% were ‘high seek-high scanners,’ 35.8% were ‘low seek-low scanners,’ 13.0% were ‘high seek-low scanners,’ and 12.4% were ‘low seek-high scanners.’ eHealth literacy was a significant, positive predictor of online information scanning (odds ratio [OR], 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41–4.29), but not for online information seeking (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.00–3.05). With respect to perceived usefulness of online information seeking, online seeking (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 2.19–11.00) and eHealth literacy (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.11–4.75) were significant predictors. Perceived usefulness of online scanning had a significant association with online scanning (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.08–5.22), but not with eHealth literacy. CONCLUSION: To increase the effectiveness of the health policy for online information search and related outcomes in the context of diet and weight control, it is important to develop education programs promoting eHealth literacy.

What Factors Impact Consumer Perception of the Effectiveness of Health Information Sites? An Investigation of the Korean National Health Information Portal

Lay public's concerns around health and health information are increasing. In response, governments and government agencies are establishing websites to address such concerns and improve health literacy by providing better access to validated health information. Since 2011, the Korean government has constructed the National Health Information Portal (NHIP) website run in collaboration with the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS). This study therefore aimed to 1) examine consumer use of NHIP, with respect to the usage patterns, evaluation on health information provided, and perceived effectiveness of the site; and 2) identify factors that may impact perceived effectiveness of the site. An online survey was conducted with 164 NHIP users, recruited through a popup window on the main screen of the portal website from October to November 2015. The significant predicting factors supported by the data include the relevance of health information on the site, the usefulness of information in making health decisions, and the effective visualization of information. These factors can inform future efforts to design more effective health information websites, possibly based on metadata systems, to further advance the lay public's information seeking and health literacy.

Analysis of the Factors Affecting Consumer Acceptance of Accredited Online Health Information

With the increasing use of the internet and the spread of smartphones, health information seekers obtain considerable information through the internet. As the amount of online health information increases, the need for quality management of health information has been emphasized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the intention of using accredited online health information by applying the extended technology acceptance model (Extended-TAM). An online survey was conducted from September 15, 2016 to October 3, 2016, on 500 men and women aged 19–69 years. The results showed that the greatest factor influencing the acceptance of the accredited health information was perceived usefulness, and the expectation for the quality of the accreditation system was the most important mediator variable. In order to establish the health information accreditation system as a means to provide easy and useful information to the consumers, it is necessary to carry out quality management and promote the system through the continuous monitoring of the accreditation system.

Development of Quality Management Systems for Clinical Practice Guidelines in Korea

This study introduces the Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) appraisal system by the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS). Quality management policies for CPGs vary among different countries, which have their own cultures and health care systems. However, supporting developers in guideline development and appraisals using standardized tools are common practices. KAMS, an organization representing the various medical societies of Korea, has been striving to establish a quality management system for CPGs, and has established a CPGs quality management system that reflects the characteristics of the Korean healthcare environment and the needs of its users. KAMS created a foundation for the development of CPGs, set up an independent appraisal organization, enacted regulations related to the appraisals, and trained appraisers. These efforts could enhance the ability of each individual medical society to develop CPGs, to increase the quality of the CPGs, and to ultimately improve the quality of the information available to decision-makers.

National Priority Setting of Clinical Practice Guidelines Development for Chronic Disease Management

By November 2013, a total of 125 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been developed in Korea. However, despite the high burden of diseases and the clinical importance of CPGs, most chronic diseases do not have available CPGs. Merely 83 CPGs are related to chronic diseases, and only 40 guidelines had been developed in the last 5 yr. Considering the rate of the production of new evidence in medicine and the worsening burden from chronic diseases, the need for developing CPGs for more chronic diseases is becoming increasingly pressing. Since 2011, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been jointly developing CPGs for chronic diseases. However, priorities have to be set and resources need to be allocated within the constraint of a limited funding. This study identifies the chronic diseases that should be prioritized for the development of CPGs in Korea. Through an objective assessment by using the analytic hierarchy process and a subjective assessment with a survey of expert opinion, high priorities were placed on ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, osteoarthritis, neck pain, chronic kidney disease, and cirrhosis of the liver.

Applying the RE-AIM Framework to Evaluate the Dissemination and Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Sexually Transmitted Infections

Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are one of the most effective ways to translate evidence of medical improvement into everyday practice. This study evaluated the dissemination and implementation of the Sexually Transmitted Infections-Korean Guidelines (STIKG) by applying the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. A survey questionnaire was administered to clinicians via the internet. Among the 332 respondents, 190 (57.2%) stated that they were aware of STIKG and 107 (33.2%) implemented STIKG in their practice. The odds that a physician was exposed to STIKG (dissemination) were 2.61 times greater among physicians with previous training or education for any CPG than those who did not. Clinicians who indicated that STIKG were easy to understand were 4.88 times more likely to implement STIKG in their practice than those who found them not so easy. When a clinician's workplace had a supporting system for CPG use, the odds of implementation was 3.76 times higher. Perceived level of effectiveness of STIKG did not significantly influence their implementation. The findings of this study suggest that, ultimately, knowing how to engage clinicians in CPG implementation is as important as how to disseminate such guidelines; moreover, easy-to-use guidelines and institutional support are key factors.

Strategies for improvement of primary care in Korea

Primary care is essential among the strategies for expansion of healthy life expectancy and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to suggest strategies for improvement of primary care in Korea, in light of the current Korean condition. Data and reports related to primary care and medical were collected and analyzed, applying the structure-process-outcome frame, taking into consideration current medical care delivery system. Current primary care system is considered inappropriate and inefficient from many perspectives. In particular, continuous and comprehensive management of chronic disease is needed. To effectively carry out the function of primary care, an incentive system for patients' and physicians' motivation is needed. Also, support for improvement of the capability to manage patients and monitor health outcomes has to be considered. It is hoped that the government will develop a long-term vision and make ongoing investments.

Comparative Study of Prehospital Airway Devices Tested Using a Manikin Model: A Comparison of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic (LMA Classict(TM)), Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway (Cobra PLA(TM)) and the King Laryngeal Tube (King LT(TM))

PURPOSE: Prehospital airway management is crucial to emergency healthcare providers, especially for emergency medical technicians (EMTs). In spite of its clinical importance, adequate airway management cannot be guaranteed only with the use of endotracheal intubation. Many supraglottic airway devices have been introduced as substitutes for endotracheal intubation. We compared 3 such devices - LMA Classic(TM), Cobra PLA(TM) and King LT(TM) - using a manikin and recorded performance skill and preference. METHODS: Thirty EMTs participated in the airway management educational program and were enrolled in this study which was held in the Gyeong-Gi Fire Academy. We surveyed the participants general characteristics and experience by e-mail prior to this laboratory study of their skills. The airway management program consisted of a 10 minute lecture followed by 20 minutes of skill training. We observed the success rate, preference among the 3 devices, and the total procedure time of airway device insertion in different rooms. RESULTS: The LMA Classic(TM), Cobra PLA(TM) and King LT(TM) groups succeeded 90%, 76.7%, and 80%, respectively at the first trial. There was no statistically significant difference among the groups (p=0.372). To achieve adequate airway management, the groups spent 28.6+/-7.2, 24.7+/-4.9, and 26.9+/-7.0 seconds, respectively, again with no significant differences (p=0.108). A preference survey performed after the test showed the highest preference for King LT(TM), 57%. CONCLUSION: Three prehospital supraglottic airway devices showed no differences in success rate or procedure time. Despite this result, King LT(TM) was the most preferred.

The Development and Effect of Navigator Education Program for Cancer Screening on Women in the Community / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of navigator education program for cancer screening, which is designed for improvement in knowledge of cancer, perceived self efficacy and communication skill of the breast and cervical cancer screening for middle-aged and aged women in urban areas. Cancer screening navigator is lay health advisor who are educated for providing information, emotional support about cancer screening at the community. METHODS: The subjects were 33 women at the age of 40-69 and educated for 12 hours through the education program. The control group subjects were 30 women. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics and paired t-test were used with SPSS WIN 14.0. RESULTS: Contents of education program were case of cancer early detection, benefit of breast cancer screening, benefit of cervical cancer screening, health care system for cancer screening, role of cancer screening navigator, communication skill, transtheoretical model and role play. Knowledge of cancer(t=4.267, p=0.000) and communication skill(t=4.947, p=0.000) of the women increased significantly after implementing the 12 hours education program. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that navigator education for cancer screening has an effect in increasing knowledge of cancer, and communication skill scores.

The Analysis of Health Related Behavior after Using Health Information on the Internet / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the health information such as the general health information, the health product information, and the hospital information, and we wanted to identify the association between internet health information and the health related behavior by analyzing the process after people search the Internet. METHODS: A telephone survey with structured questionnaire was performed by trained surveyors. The respondents were sampled proportionate to the Korean demographic distribution with considering the city size and the populations' ages and gender. The survey was conducted from October 2006 to November 2006. RESULTS: Out of 3,758 successfully connected persons of age 20 or more, 871(23.2%) respondents had used Internet health information during the last year. The purposes of searching the Internet for health was, 1) to get general health information (717 cases, 81.0%), 2) shopping for health product (109 cases, 12.3%) and 3) seeking information about hospital selection (59 cases, 6.7%). Our research showed that the process after searching the Internet for health information depends on the purpose of the search. 68.8% of the searchers for general health information, 67% of the searchers for health product shopping and 64.4% of the searchers seeking information to guide hospital selection were satisfied with their Internet search. However one third of the respondents reported not being satisfied with the result of the search. CONCLUSIONS: Unsatisfied consumers with internet health information tended to ask lay referrals from others or they gave up seeking health information. The health information system should be improved to increase the accessibility and to provide reliable and effective information. Also, a more user-centric community is needed in order to strengthen the effective role of lay referrals among the internet users.

Heath Promotion Priorities of Older Adults in a Rural Community

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the priorities of health promotion for older adults in the rural community. The study attempts to display demographic characteristics subjective health status and chronic diseases status of the older adults. METHODS: We surveyed 384 senior residents in a community via face-to-face interviews in their homes, who were selected by proportional random sampling. We analysed the frequency, multiple responses and chi2 by SPSS 12.0K. RESULTS: The mean of subjective health status was 54.04+/-21.69 with a maximum of 100. Our study found that the high priorities in health promotion for older adults were prevention and management of hypertension and diabetes, strengthening of joint and muscles, cancer screening and physical exercise. Prevention of depression and social activities were low priorities. Strengthening of joints and muscles was a high priority among women while smoking cessation and social activities were high priorities of men. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, health promotion priorities of older adults differed by gender and subjective health status. Disease-related priorities received more attention than psycho-social health priorities. This study suggests comparing the priorities regionally and nationally.