Improving health literacy in elderly patients may enhance health status and reduce use of health care services

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Use Of Health Care

scholarly journals Health issues in female Moldovan migrants in a north-eastern Italian region

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Buja ◽  
F A Vianello ◽  
F Zaccagnini ◽  
C Pinato ◽  
P Maculan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Italian Women

Abstract Background Migration from Eastern Europe to Italy is still massively expanding, with a subsequent increase of migrants in the job market who are traditionally employed in low specialized and high strain jobs. In this context Health Literacy is a known factor contributing to immigrant health disparities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health status of a population of migrant Moldovan women and their access to health care services in northern Italy by age class and health literacy level. Methods We administered an ad-hoc questionnaire to adult Moldovan women to assess their lifestyles, employment status, reported health status, access to Health Services and Health Literacy. Moreover, the study compared our data with a sample of Italian women of the same age range living in North-Eastern region interviewed in 2015. Analysis employs descriptive statistics. Results The sample included 170 Moldovan women (age 46.5 ±12.3). Prevalence of active smokers was found double in women with a low Health Literacy. Health Literacy status also determined the different access to Public Health Services, with women with higher literacy using more programmed health services and screening programs, and women with lower literacy conversely using more emergency health services. Overall reported health status was found worse in our sample than in Italian women and reported disease prevalence among age ranges was different than Italian ones with an increased probability for allergies, lumbar diseases and depression. Conclusions Some diseases have a higher prevalence in Moldovan than in Italian women. Health literacy is associated with lifestyles and use of health care services also in migrants, as previously demonstrated for native population. Key messages Tailored prevention programs and intervention should be designed in Moldovan women to address high prevalence diseases in this population. Strategy to improve health literacy should involve immigrants. Some diseases resulted well-spread over the whole sample and not influenced by age or employment; the difficulties migrants have to overcome might influence their health status.

scholarly journals Health status of female Moldovan immigrants to Italy by health literacy level and age group: a descriptive study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Buja ◽  
Francesca Alice Vianello ◽  
Federica Zaccagnini ◽  
Carlo Pinato ◽  
Pietro Maculan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Literacy Level

Abstract Background: Migration flows from Eastern Europe to Italy have been large and continue to grow. The purpose of this study was to examine the health status of a population of Moldovan immigrant women, and their access to health care services in northern Italy, by age group and health literacy level. Methods: We administered an ad-hoc questionnaire to adult Moldovan women to assess their lifestyles, self-reported health status (symptoms and diseases), access to health services, and health literacy. Then, using descriptive statistics, we compared our data with findings for a sample of Italian women of the same age living in the north-east of the country. Results: Our sample included 170 Moldovan women (aged 46.5 ± 12.3) in five occupational categories: home care workers (28.2%); cleaners (27.1%); health care workers (5.9%); other occupations (28.8%); and unemployed (10%). Active smokers were twice as prevalent among the women with a low health literacy. Health literacy level also determined access to healthcare services: women with a higher health literacy tended to use scheduled health services and screening programs, while those with a lower health literacy relied more on emergency health services. For all age groups, the Moldovan sample reported a higher prevalence of allergies, lumbar disorders and depression than the Italian controls. Conclusions: The reported prevalence of some diseases was higher among Moldovan immigrant women than among Italian resident women. Health literacy was associated with the immigrant women’s lifestyle and the use of health care services, as previously seen for the autochthonous population.

Health status and health care of immigrants in Canada: a longitudinal analysis

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-83A ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Newbold
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Need For Care ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Concomitant Increase ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Use Of Health Care

Objectives: This paper focuses upon health status, need for care, and use of health care from 1994/95 to 2000/01 in the Canadian foreign-born population. Methods: Using Statistics Canada's longitudinal National Population Health Survey, descriptive and survival analyses are used to explore immigrant health status and health care. Results: The health status of immigrants quickly declines after arrival, with a concomitant increase in use of health care services. However, survival analysis of the risk of a change to poor health indicates no difference between immigrants and the native-born. Similarly, there is no difference in the risk of hospital use between the two populations. Conclusions: The health status of recent immigrant arrivals is observed to decline towards that of the native-born population, while health care utilization increases. However, increased use may not be sufficient to offset declines in health, meaning that need for health care within the immigrant population may be unmet.

The Impact of War on Population Health

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Turkan Ahmet
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Past ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
The Social ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
The Impact

The past few decades of ongoing war in Iraq has had a dramatic impact on the health of Iraq’s population. Wars are known to have negative effects on the social and physical environments of individuals, as well as limit their access to the available health care services. This paper explores the personal experiences of my family members, who were exposed to war, as well as includes information that has been reviewed form many academic sources. The data aided in providing recommendations and developing strategies, on both local and international levels, to improve the health status of the populations exposed to war.

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