Physical activity and sedentary behaviour of ambulatory older adults in a developed Asian community: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION@#Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) independently influence the health outcomes of older adults. Both provide interventional opportunities for successful ageing. We aimed to determine levels of PA and SB in ambulatory older adults and their associated factors in a developed Asian population known for its longevity.@*METHODS@#We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in a Singapore public primary healthcare centre. Multi-ethnic Asian adults aged ≥ 60 years took an interviewer-administered questionnaire survey. PA and SB were assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE; score range 0 to > 400) and the Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire for the Elderly, respectively.@*RESULTS@#Among 397 participants (50.9% female; 73.2% Chinese; 47.9% aged ≥ 70 years; 33.5% employed, including voluntary work), 58.7% had ≥ 3 chronic illnesses and 11.1% required walking aids. The median PASE score was 110.8 (interquartile range 73.8-171.6) and decreased significantly with increasing age. Higher PASE score was associated with higher educational level, employment, independent ambulation without aid, and fewer chronic illnesses (p < 0.01). Employment status significantly influenced PASE score (β = 84.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 66.5-103.4; p < 0.01). 37.0% spent ≥ 8 hours daily on sedentary activity and were twice as likely to do so if they were employed (odds ratio 2.19, 95% CI 1.34-3.59; p < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#The PA of the older adults decreased with increasing age and increased with employment. One-third of them were sedentary for ≥ 8 hours daily. Those who were employed were twice as likely to have SB.

Achieving triple treatment goals in multi-ethnic Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care

@#Introduction: Achieving optimal glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and LDLCholesterol (LDL-C) in patients mitigates macro- and micro-vascular complications, which is the key treatment goal in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to determine the proportion of patients in an urban community with T2DM and the above modifiable conditions attaining triple vascular treatment goals based on current practice guidelines. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to adult Asian patients with dyslipidemia at two primary care clinics (polyclinics) in northeastern Singapore. The demographic and clinical data for this sub-population with both T2DM and dyslipidemia were collated with laboratory and treatment information retrieved from their electronic health records. The combined data was then analyzed to determine the proportion of patients who attained triple treatment goals, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with this outcome. Results: 665 eligible patients [60.5% female, 30.5% Chinese, 35% Malays, and 34.4% Indians] with a mean age of 60.6 years were recruited. Of these patients, 71% achieved LDL-C ≤2.6 mmol/L, 70.4% had BP <140/90 mmHg, and 40.9% attained HbA1c ≤7%. Overall, 22% achieved the triple treatment goals for glycemia, BP, and LDL-C control. The major determinants were the number of diabetic medications and intensity of statin therapy. Conclusion: Eight in ten patients with T2DM failed to achieve concurrent glycemic, BP, and LDL-C treatment goals, subjecting them to risks of vascular complications. Primary healthcare professionals can mitigate these risks by optimizing therapeutic treatment to maximize glycemia, dyslipidemia, and BP control.

Evaluation of a training programme to induct medical students in delivering public health talks

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>It is uncommon for medical students to deliver public health talks as part of their medical education curriculum. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel training programme that required medical students to deliver public health talks during their family medicine (FM) clerkship in a Singapore primary care institution.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The FM faculty staff guided teams of third-year medical students to select appropriate topics for health talks that were to be conducted at designated polyclinics. The talks were video-recorded and appraised for clarity, content and delivery. The appraisal was done by the student's peers and assigned faculty staff. The audience was surveyed to determine their satisfaction level and understanding of the talks. The students also self-rated the effectiveness of this new teaching activity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 120 medical students completed a questionnaire to rate the effectiveness of the new teaching activity. 85.8% of the students felt confident about the delivery of their talks, 95.8% reported having learnt how to deliver talks and 92.5% perceived this new training modality as useful in their medical education. Based on the results of the audience survey, the speakers were perceived as knowledgeable (53.1%), confident (51.3%) and professional (39.0%). Assessment of 15 video-recorded talks showed satisfactory delivery of the talks by the students.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The majority of the students reported a favourable overall learning experience under this new training programme. This finding is supported by the positive feedback garnered from the audience, peers of the medical students and the faculty staff.</p>