Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose and associated factors among the elderly in China based on the health belief model (HBM): A national cross-sectional study.

Background: The reluctance of individuals to obtain solid vaccine-induced immunity represents a fundamental challenge to containing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, including its highly mutated variants. We aimed to assess vaccination acceptance and associated factors for the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose among elderly people (≥60 years old) in China, providing a theoretical and practical reference for universal vaccination policy. Methods: A national anonymous survey was conducted in mainland China from May 25 to June 8, 2022, using a stratified random sampling method. Individuals 60 years of age and above were the target population. A chi-squared test and Cochran-Armitage test for trend were used to compare and examine vaccine acceptance rates by characteristics. Via a backward stepwise method, multivariable logistic regression models were established to assess factors associated with booster dose acceptance. Two-sided P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of 3,321 eligible participants, 82.8% (95% CI: 81.5-84.1%) were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. Concerns about contraindications (38.3%), vaccine safety (32.0%), and limited movement (28.0%) were the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Nearly one-third still believed that the booster dose was unnecessary after receiving the initial vaccination. Older adults with a low level of perceived barriers (aOR = 1.86, 95% CI, 1.03-3.38), a high level of perceived benefit (aOR = 2.31, 95% CI, 1.38-3.87), and higher cues to action (moderate, aOR = 2.22, 95% CI, 1.39-3.56; high, aOR = 5.46, 95% CI: 3.44-8.67) were more likely to accept the booster dose. Other major factors affecting the booster dose acceptance rate were occupation, time spent on social media, vaccination history, and a high knowledge score for COVID-19 and vaccines. In addition, for those over 70 years of age, rising awareness of susceptibility could be a better gateway for improving their willingness to get vaccinated. Conclusions: A total of 82.8% of recruited older adults were willing to receive the booster dose. Acceptance behaviors were closely related to occupation, time spent on social media, vaccination history, knowledge factors, perception of barriers, and benefit, as well as action cues. Targeted public health measures are a priority for improving the vaccination coverage of valid immunity among the elderly population, not only to prevent infection and poor prognosis caused by emerging variants but also to reduce the huge disease and economic burden caused by the long-term sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Residents' experiences of encounters with staff and communication in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic and associated visiting restrictions have challenged communication with others for older people residing in nursing homes. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore residents' experiences of encounters and communication with staff and relatives and friends during the Covid-19 pandemic. DESIGN: An exploratory study with an inductive approach. METHODS: Semi-structured telephone interviews with 16 Swedish nursing home residents were conducted. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis; the study reports according to the COREQ checklist. RESULTS: Three main categories emerged: (1) Mixed feelings and experiences of encounters with nursing staff, (2) Adapting to hampered communication and finding strategies to overcome language barriers, and (3) Facing pandemic restrictions and living an adjusted life. Nine subcategories are reported within these categories. Residents mainly reported good encounters with staff and receiving the care they needed, but unhelpful encounters were also reported. To manage communication with staff with limited Swedish language skills, residents developed several strategies. During the visiting ban, residents felt secure but also lonely. Staying connected with the outside world required residents to use the phone and handle other digital aids, such as video calls, but lack of technical skills among staff hindered frequent use of video calls. CONCLUSION: This study highlights how residents can feel safe in extreme situations, but increased competence, including digital literacy and language skills, among staff is required. Care providers should provide relevant information to residents and staff and employ competent staff. Findings indicate that communication plans need to include enabling communication for residents both within and outside nursing homes, taking staff language skills into consideration.

Neighborhood social cohesion is associated with the willingness toward the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines among the Chinese older population.

Neighborhood social cohesion is a prominent psychosocial factor during the pandemic, and trust in neighbors is critical for implementing health prevention-related behaviors with public health messages. We planned to specifically explore the association between neighborhood social cohesion and vaccine acceptability among older adults (≥60 years) in China. Using a random stratified sampling method, an anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted in mainland China via a professional scientific data platform from May 25 to June 8, 2022. A revised Social Cohesion Scale was applied to evaluate the level of neighborhood social cohesion. Of the 3,321 recruited respondents aged 60 and above, 82.8% (95% CI: 81.5-84.1) reported their willingness to be vaccinated. With all significant covariates adjusted, older adults with moderate (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.04-3.04) and high level of social cohesion (aOR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.29-3.77) were more likely to receive the booster dose. Our findings remained robust in a series of models after controlling for different covariates. Uncertainty about contraindications (38.3%), underestimation of their vulnerability (33.1%), and concerns about vaccine safety (32.0%) were the three main reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Therefore, building a harmonious community environment, strengthening neighborhood communication and exchange, and making good use of peer education among neighbors may become a breakthrough to promote herd immunity, especially for vulnerable older adults with limited social networks.

The Association between Risk Perception and Hesitancy toward the Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine among People Aged 60 Years and Older in China.

BACKGROUND: Given the prevalence of the omicron variant and decreased immunity provided by vaccines, it is imperative to enhance resistance to COVID-19 in the old population. We planned to explore the hesitancy rate toward the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the association between risk perception and the abovementioned rate among people aged 60 and older. METHODS: This national cross-sectional study was conducted in mainland China from 25 May to 8 June 2022, targeting people who were 60 years old or above. Four dimensions were extracted from the Health Belief Model (HBM) to assess participants' perceived risk levels, including perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived barriers, and perceived benefit. An independent Chi-square test was used to compare the vaccine hesitancy rates among different groups stratified by characteristics. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to explore the associations between risk perception and hesitancy rate. RESULTS: Of 3321 participants, 17.2% (95% CI: 15.9-18.5%) were hesitant about booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines. Believing that they were ineligible for vaccination due to certain illnesses (38.3%), concern about vaccine safety (32.0%), believing the booster shots were unnecessary (33.1%), and their limitation on movements (28.0%) were the main reasons for vaccine hesitation. Adjusted by all the selected covariates, people with low perception level of susceptibility (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.00-1.92) and benefit (low: aOR = 3.31, 95% CI: 2.01-5.45; moderate: aOR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.75-2.85) were less likely to receiving the booster dose, and the same results were found in people with higher perceived barriers (moderate: aOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 2.13-3.35; high: aOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.14-3.67). Our estimates were stable in all four models. CONCLUSIONS: In total, 17.2% of the people aged 60 years and older in China were hesitant about booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines, and it was closely associated with a lower level of perceived susceptibility and benefit, as well as a higher level of perceived barriers. Concerns about contraindications, vaccine safety, and limited movements were the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Targeted public health measure is a priority to improve the understanding of the elderly on their own susceptibility and vulnerability and clear the obstacles to vaccination.

Old Age People Emotional Stress Prediction During Outbreak Using Machine Learning Methods

“Old Age People Emotional Stress Prediction during Outbreak using Machine learning methods” discusses that there are two types of stress in elderly people: physical stress and emotional stress. It is very easy to detect physical stress, such as walking problems, breathing problems, problems in doing their daily routine work, etc., but it is very tough to detect emotional stress, and treatment is even more difficult. There are some common reasons for stress, such as financial problems after retirement, taking care of a sick spouse or the death of a spouse, and many more. The common symptoms of stress are loss of appetite, anxiety, insomnia, etc. But the situation gets worse during an outbreak. If an outbreak comes in the form of a pandemic such as a coronavirus, resulting in the death of loved ones, these things increase the level of emotional stress in elderly people. To predict their emotional stress, authors are using machine learning algorithms, Support vector machine for classification and for prediction Logistic Regression have been applied. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Age discrimination in delivery of health services to old people during COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review study

Background & objectives. Age discrimination causes many conse-quences and complications in old people as a high-risk group. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery of care and treatment services to old people has become a major challenge. The present study aimed to synthesize and summarize the conditions of discrimination in the delivery of health services to old people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research design & methods. A scoping review was performed using Arkesy and O’Malley’s framework. PUBMED, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, ProQuest, Science direct, SPRINGER, and Wiley databases were searched using the related keywords. Out of 246 retrieved stud-ies, 21 published studies related to ageism toward old people in the delivery of healthcare services to old people during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined. Results. Most of the published reports were from European countries and the United States. Although they indicated a growing trend of an-ti-aging attitudes, there were some positive behaviors toward them. Promotion of anti-aging culture, discriminatory guidelines and decisions and feeling of insignificance by the old people themselves may be associated with the condition of discrimination against them. Discussion & implications. The articles were related to limited coun-tries. Owing to discriminatory behaviors in the delivery of health services to old people, it is necessary for health policy-makers to develop protocols on the delivery of healthcare services to this group transpar-ently to minimize harm, enhance positive behaviors toward this group, and train healthcare providers and old people. © by Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria (SIGG).

Life under COVID-19 lockdown: an experience of old age people in India

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the pain and suffering of elderly age people during the COVID-19 lockdown. It was an unpleasant experience for old age people. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, primarily, the information has been collected through interviews and observation. The researchers interviewed the older people and discussed their experience during the lockdown, and they also observed their activities during that period. Findings: The main results of this paper suggested that lockdown appeared as double-edge sword for old age and elderly people. They are not allowed to go outside to safeguard their lives, and inside the home, they are facing issues of anxiety, fear and mental trauma. They are not able to complete their daily routine, and it is hampering their mental strength. Originality/value: The paper is based on firsthand information received from an old-age couple. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Psychosocial Support Provided for Old People during Coronavirus Crisis and its Relationship with Eudemonic Well-being

The present study aims to explore the relationship between psychosocial support and eudemonic well-being among old people in Jordan during the Coronavirus crisis. The study's sample consists from 465 old men and women;141 men and 324 women. The ages of those men and women are within the range of (60-85) years. Those men and women use social media. In order to meet the study's goals, two scales were developed. The first scale is the psychosocial support scale which consists from 20 items. The second scale is the eudemonic well-being scale which consists from 30 items. The reliability and validity of those scales were measured. It was found that there is a statistically significant positive correlation between psychosocial support and eudemonic well-being. It was found that there are statistically significant differences between the respondents in terms of the psychosocial support and eudemonic well-being levels which can be attributed to gender for the favor of males. It was found that there are statistically significant differences between the respondents in terms of the psychosocial support and eudemonic well-being levels which can be attributed to income for the favor of the ones with the high income. The researchers suggest several recommendations. For instance, they recommend developing effective plans by the crisis management cell that ensure that old people are provided with psychosocial support. Ensuring that shall increase the eudemonic well-being levels of old people during any future potential crisis. © 2021 University of Jordan,Deanship of Scientific Research. All rights reserved.