scholarly journals Socioeconomic Disparities in eHealth Literacy and Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

Author(s):  
Ziqiu Guo ◽  
Sheng Zhi Zhao ◽  
Ningyuan Guo ◽  
Yongda Wu ◽  
Xue Weng ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
pp. 80-86
Author(s):  
Phuoc Thuoc Doan ◽  
Thi Huong Nguyen ◽  
Thi Thanh Nhan Tran ◽  
Thi Phuong Thao Nguyen ◽  
Thi Thuy Hang Nguyen ◽  
...  

Background: Non-communicable diseases seriously affect public health and socio-economic development of the country due to the high number of people suffering from diseases, being disabled and mortal. However, the proportion of people who recognized themselves a suffering from non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia is not high. For cases that their disease situations have been identified, there are not appropriate treatment and preventive behaviors. Objectives: 1) To determine the proportion of 25 - 84 years old peoplewho identified themselves as suffering from hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. 2) To learn treatment and preventive behaviors in the group of people who identified themselves as suffering from diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a randomly selected sample of 1600 residents in Thua Thien Hue province. Results: The proportion of people knowing that they are suffering from hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia was 29.4%; 3.2% and 7.8% respectively. Among them, the proportion of people who did not treat and treated irregularly accounted for 42.7%; 13.7% and 75.2% respectively; the proportion of people who did not change their lifestyles and dietary habits accounted for 50.1%; 5.9% and 56.8% respectively. Conclusions: The proportion of people who identified themselves as suffering from some non-communicable diseases without appropriate treatment and preventive behaviors is alarming. Interventions are needed to help people realize the importance of treatment and prevention effectively. Key words: Non-communicable diseases, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e051527
Author(s):  
Huanyu Zhang ◽  
Eliza LY Wong ◽  
Samuel YS Wong ◽  
Patsy YK Chau ◽  
Benjamin HK Yip ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Hong Kong older patients visiting general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) between 2006 and 2014 and to identify factors associated with PIM use among older adults visiting GOPCs in 2014.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingGOPC.ParticipantsTwo study samples were constructed including a total of 844 910 patients aged 65 and above from 2006 to 2014 and a cohort of 489 301 older patients in 2014.MeasurementsTwo subsets of the 2015 American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria—PIMs independent of diagnosis and PIMs due to drug–disease interactions—were used to estimate the prevalence of PIM use over 12 months. PIMs that were not included in the Hospital Authority drug formulary or with any specific restriction or exception in terms of indication, dose or therapy duration were excluded. Characteristics of PIM users and non-PIM users visiting GOPCs in 2014 were compared. Independent associations between patient variables and PIM use were assessed by stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe 12-month period prevalence of PIM use decreased from 55.56% (95% CI 55.39% to 55.72%) in 2006 to 47.51% (95% CI 47.37% to 47.65%) in 2014. In the multivariable regression analysis, the strongest factor associated with PIM use was the number of different drugs prescribed (adjusted OR, AOR 23.01, 95% CI 22.36 to 23.67). Being female (AOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.87 for males vs females) and having a greater number of GOPC visits (AOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.78 to 1.88) as well as more than six diagnoses (AOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.36 to 1.52) were associated with PIM use.ConclusionsThe overall prevalence of PIM use in older adults visiting GOPCs decreased from 2006 to 2014 in Hong Kong although the prevalence of PIM use was still high in 2014. Patients with female gender, a larger number of medications prescribed, more frequent visits to GOPCs, and more than six diagnoses were at higher risk for PIM use.


1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Y. W. KWAN ◽  
A. C. W. LEE ◽  
A. M. C. LI ◽  
S. C. F. TAM ◽  
C. F. CHAN ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziqiu Guo ◽  
Sheng Zhi Zhao ◽  
Ningyuan Guo ◽  
Yongda Wu ◽  
Xue Weng ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND eHealth literacy can potentially facilitate web-based information seeking and taking informed measures. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate socioeconomic disparities in eHealth literacy and seeking of web-based information on COVID-19, and their associations with COVID-19 preventive behaviors. METHODS The COVID-19 Health Information Survey (CoVHIns), using telephonic (n=500) and web-based surveys (n=1001), was conducted among adults in Hong Kong in April 2020. The Chinese eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS; score range 8-40) was used to measure eHealth literacy. COVID-19 preventive behaviors included wearing surgical masks, wearing fabric masks, washing hands, social distancing, and adding water or bleach to the household drainage system. Adjusted beta coefficients and the slope indices of inequality for the eHEALS score by socioeconomic status, adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for seeking of web-based information on COVID-19 by socioeconomic status, and aORs for the high adherence to preventive behaviors by the eHEALS score and seeking of web-based information on COVID-19 were calculated. RESULTS The mean eHEALS score was 26.10 (SD 7.70). Age was inversely associated with the eHEALS score, but education and personal income were positively associated with the eHEALS score and seeking of web-based information on COVID-19 (for all, <i>P</i> for trend&lt;.05). Participants who sought web-based information on COVID-19 showed high adherence to the practice of wearing surgical masks (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.15-2.13), washing hands (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05-1.71), social distancing (aOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.14-1.93), and adding water or bleach to the household drainage system (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.28-2.18). Those with the highest eHEALS score displayed high adherence to the practice of wearing surgical masks (aOR 3.84, 95% CI 1.63-9.05), washing hands (aOR 4.14, 95% CI 2.46-6.96), social distancing (aOR 2.25, 95% CI 1.39-3.65), and adding water or bleach to the household drainage system (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.19-3.16), compared to those with the lowest eHEALS score. CONCLUSIONS Chinese adults with a higher socioeconomic status had higher eHealth literacy and sought more web-based information on COVID-19; both these factors were associated with a high adherence to the guidelines for preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.


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