Analysis of influencing factors for social support satisfaction among disabled elderly at home in rural areas / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To examine influencing factors for social support satisfaction among disabled elderly people at home in rural areas and to provide evidence for policies on further improving the level of social support and the quality of care for disabled elderly people.Methods:We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey with 211 disabled elderly people, using a random sampling method in 6 villages and towns in the Southern, Northern and Guanzhong areas of Shaanxi province from June to October 2020.An ordinal logistic regression model was adopted to analyze influencing factors for social support satisfaction among the participants.Results:The survey results indicated that, of the 211 disabled elderly people, 49(23.22%)were unsatisfied with social support, 110(52.13%)were generally satisfied, and 52(24.65%)were satisfied.Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that the degree of disability, the number of chronic diseases, with or without hospitalization in 2019, the most important daily caregiver, the time needed to the nearest medical institution, and relationships with family members were important factors influencing social support satisfaction for disabled elderly people(all P<0.05).For the elderly with disability, female, a low degree of disability, no hospitalization in 2019, the spouse as the most important caregiver, and a short time needed to the nearest medical institution tended to be associated with a high level of social support satisfaction( OR=2.07, 71.52, 30.75 and 19.22, respectively).Poor relationships with family members were associated with a low level of social support satisfaction( OR=0.39). Conclusions:The satisfaction of disabled elderly people with social support is at a moderate level.For elderly people with disability, the degree of disability, the number of chronic diseases, recent hospitalization, the most important daily caregivers, the time needed to the nearest medical institution, and relationships with family members are important influencing factors for social support satisfaction.