scholarly journals Digital Information Technology Use and Patient Preferences for Internet-Based Health Education Modalities: Cross-Sectional Survey Study of Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Chronic Health Conditions (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy P Gordon ◽  
Elizabeth Crouch
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Digital Information Technology

BACKGROUND Health information, patient education, and self-management (health information and advice, HIA) tools are increasingly being made available to adults with chronic health conditions through internet-based health and mobile health (mHealth) digital information technologies. However, there is limited information about patient preferences for using specific types of health information and advice resources and how preferences and usage differ by age group and education. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine how use of digital information technologies and preferred methods for obtaining health information and advice varies by age group and education among middle-aged and older adults with chronic health conditions. METHODS The study used cross-sectional survey data for 9005 Kaiser Permanente Northern California members aged 45 to 85 years who responded to a mailed and Web-based health survey conducted during 2014 and 2015 and indicated having at least 1 chronic health condition. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression models with weighted data were used to estimate and compare the prevalence of digital information technology use, past-year use of internet-based health information and advice resources, and preferences for using internet-based, mHealth, and traditional health information and advice modalities for adults aged 45 to 65 years, 66 to 75 years, and 76 to 85 years. RESULTS The percentages of adults who used digital information technologies (computers, smartphones, internet, email, and apps), had obtained health information and advice from an internet-based resource in the past year, and who were interested in using internet-based and mHealth modalities for obtaining health information and advice declined with age. Within age group, prevalence of digital information technologies use and interest in internet-based and mHealth modalities was lower among adults with no college education versus college graduates. Differences in preferences for internet-based health information and advice modalities between the oldest and younger groups and those with lower versus higher education were substantially diminished when we restricted analyses to internet users. CONCLUSIONS Health care providers and organizations serving middle-aged and older adults with chronic health conditions should not assume that patients, especially those who are older and less educated, want to engage with internet-based and mHealth resources. In addition, increasing the engagement of nonutilizers of digital devices and the internet with internet-based health information and advice and mHealth apps might require both instrumental (eg, providing digital information technology devices, internet, and skills training) and social support. As part of patient-centered care, it is important for providers to ascertain their patients’ use of digital information technologies and preferences for obtaining health information and patient education rather than routinely referring them to internet-based resources. It is also important for health care providers and consumer health organizations to user test their Web-based resources to make sure they are easy for older and less educated adults to use and to make sure that it remains easy for adults with chronic conditions to obtain health information and patient education using offline resources.

Saskatoon in motion: Class vs. home-based exercise intervention in older adults with chronic health conditions

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Reeder ◽  
Karen Chad ◽  
Liz Harrison ◽  
Nigel Ashworth ◽  
Suzanne Sheppard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Home Based

Vulnerable, But Why? Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Older Adults Exposed to Hurricane Sandy

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison R. Heid ◽  
Zachary Christman ◽  
Rachel Pruchno ◽  
Francine P. Cartwright ◽  
Maureen Wilson-Genderson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Group Status ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Post Traumatic

AbstractObjectiveDrawing on pre-disaster, peri-disaster, and post-disaster data, this study examined factors associated with the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in older adults exposed to Hurricane Sandy.MethodsWe used a sample of older participants matched by gender, exposure, and geographic region (N=88, mean age=59.83 years) in which one group reported clinically significant levels of PTSD symptoms and the other did not. We conducted t-tests, chi-square tests, and exact logistic regressions to examine differences in pre-disaster characteristics and peri-disaster experiences.ResultsOlder adults who experienced PTSD symptoms reported lower levels of income, positive affect, subjective health, and social support and were less likely to be working 4 to 6 years before Hurricane Sandy than were people not experiencing PTSD symptoms. Those developing PTSD symptoms reported more depressive symptoms, negative affect, functional disability, chronic health conditions, and pain before Sandy and greater distress and feelings of danger during Hurricane Sandy. Exact logistic regression revealed independent effects of preexisting chronic health conditions and feelings of distress during Hurricane Sandy in predicting PTSD group status.ConclusionsOur findings indicated that because vulnerable adults can be identified before disaster strikes, the opportunity to mitigate disaster-related PTSD exists through identification and resource programs that target population subgroups. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:362–370)

scholarly journals Chronic health conditions and work-related stress in older adults participating in the Dutch workforce

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-508
Author(s):  
Miriam Mutambudzi ◽  
Kene Henkens
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Work Stress ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Pension Reform ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Physical Demands ◽  
Chronic Health

AbstractThe proportion of workers with chronic health conditions (CHCs) will increase over the years as pension reform is increasing the age of retirement in many European countries. This will increase the percentage of older adults with CHCs performing highly demanding work. This study sought to examine the association between common CHCs [cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, arthritis, respiratory and sleep disorders] and three domains of work stress in older Dutch workers. This study used data from the first wave of the NIDI Pension Panel Study for working adults aged 60–65 years (n = 6793). Logistic regression models examined the strength of association between CHCs and (1) general work stress, (2) emotional, and (3) physical demands. All five CHC were independently associated with one or more domains of stress. After including all CHCs in the model, CVD, sleep disorders, and arthritis were significantly associated with general stress. Respiratory disorders, sleep disorders, and arthritis were significantly associated with physical demands. Diabetes (1.25, 95% CI 1.01–1.53), sleep disorders (1.99, 95% CI 1.72–2.31), and arthritis (1.18, 95% CI 1.06–1.31) were significantly associated with emotional demands. Our findings demonstrate that work stress is associated with prevalent CHCs, and these conditions are differentially associated with several domains of work stress in adults approaching retirement. More research is needed to understand the causal relationship between CHCs and work stress. Such research may provide insights for effective workplace and public health interventions to ensure that older workers remain physically and mentally healthy, and productive through their working years.

Problem Drinking and Depression in Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orion Mowbray ◽  
Tiffany Washington ◽  
Greg Purser ◽  
Jay O‘Shields
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Drinking ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Chronic Health

scholarly journals The Health and Retirement Study: Analysis of Associations Between Use of the Internet for Health Information and Use of Health Services at Multiple Time Points (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunju Shim ◽  
Jennifer Ailshire ◽  
Elizabeth Zelinski ◽  
Eileen Crimmins
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Doctor Visits ◽  
Use Of The Internet

BACKGROUND The use of the internet for health information among older people is receiving increasing attention, but how it is associated with chronic health conditions and health service use at concurrent and subsequent time points using nationally representative data is less known. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether the use of the internet for health information is associated with health service utilization and whether the association is affected by specific health conditions. METHODS The study used data collected in a technology module from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older Americans aged 52 years and above from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N=991). Negative binomial regressions were used to examine the association between use of Web-based health information and the reported health service uses in 2012 and 2014. Analyses included additional covariates adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Interactions between the use of the internet for health information and chronic health conditions were also tested. RESULTS A total of 48.0% (476/991) of Americans aged 52 years and above reported using Web-based health information. The use of Web-based health information was positively associated with the concurrent reports of doctor visits, but not over 2 years. However, an interaction of using Web-based health information with diabetes showed that users had significantly fewer doctor visits compared with nonusers with diabetes at both times. CONCLUSIONS The use of the internet for health information was associated with higher health service use at the concurrent time, but not at the subsequent time. The interaction between the use of the internet for health information and diabetes was significant at both time points, which suggests that health-related internet use may be associated with fewer doctor visits for certain chronic health conditions. Results provide some insight into how Web-based health information may provide an alternative health care resource for managing chronic conditions.

scholarly journals Can Vitamin D Positively Impact COVID-19 Risk and Severity Among Older Adults: A Review of the Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Ray Marks
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Health Status ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Vitamin D Levels

Background The coronavirus Covid-19 strain that emerged in December 2019, continues to produce a widespread and seemingly intractable negative impact on health and longevity in all parts of the world, especially, among older adults, and those with chronic health conditions. Aim The first aim of this review article was to examine, summarize, synthesize, and report on the research base concerning the possible use of vitamin-D supplementation for reducing both Covid-19 risk and severity, especially among older adults at high risk for Covid-19 infections. A second was to provide directives for researchers or professionals who work or are likely to work in this realm in the future. Methods All English language relevant publications detailing the possible efficacy of vitamin D as an intervention strategy for minimizing Covid-19 infection risk published in 2020 were systematically sought. Key words used were: Vitamin D, Covid-19, and Coronavirus. Databases used were PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. All relevant articles were carefully examined and those meeting the review criteria were carefully read, and described in narrative form. Results Collectively, these data reveal vitamin D is a powerful steroid like compound that is required by the body to help many life affirming physiological functions, including immune processes, but its deficiency may seriously impact the health status and well being of the older adult and others. Since vitamin D is not manufactured by the body directly, ensuring those who are deficient in vitamin D may prove a helpful overall preventive measure as well as a helpful treatment measure among older adults at high risk for severe Covid-19 disease outcomes. Conclusions Older individuals with chronic health conditions, as well as healthy older adults at risk for vitamin D deficiency are likely to benefit physically as well as mentally, from efforts to foster adequate vitamin D levels. Geriatric clinicians can expect this form of intervention to reduce infection severity in the presence of Covid-19 infection, regardless of health status, and subject to careful study, researchers can make a highly notable impact in this regard.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document