Knowledge, attitudes, and factors associated with mobile health application use among middle-aged and older adults: quantitative survey (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mangyeong Lee ◽  
Danbee Kang ◽  
Jung Hee Yoon ◽  
Sungkeun Shim ◽  
Im Ryung Kim ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Despite the great benefits of mobile health applications (mHAs) in managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) internationally, studies have documented general challenges to broad adoption of mHAs among middle to older age groups. By focusing on broad adoption, these studies have been limited in their evaluation of patients who can benefit the most from the functionalities provided by mHAs. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, self-confidence, perceived benefits, and barriers of using mHAs depending on experience with mHAs among the middle-aged and older adults. Furthermore, we aim to identify the factors associated with the actual use of mHAs. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey at a single tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, between May 1 and May 31, 2018. Of the 625 patients who were contacted, 323 participants were granted full inclusion to the study. We compared demographics, knowledge, self-confidence, and perceived benefits and barriers by experience with using mHAs, then performed logistic regression to identify the factors associated with mHA use. RESULTS Among the participants, 64.1% (N = 207) had experience using mHAs. Those in the experienced group were more likely to have more than college education (55.1% vs. 27.5%, P < 0.001) and to report a higher monthly income (≥ $7,000, 22.7% vs. 18.1%, P = 0.05) than their less-experienced counterparts. Although the experienced group was more likely to have higher self-confidence in using mHAs, about half of the study participants, including people with experience using mHAs, did not have appropriate knowledge of mobile technology. With adjusted logistic model, higher educated (adjusted PR (aPR) = 1.53, 95% CI, 1.26–1.80), higher perceived benefits of mHAs (aPR = 1.43, 95% CI, 1.04–1.83), and higher self-confidence using mHAs (aPR = 1.41, 95% CI, 1.12–1.70) were significant factors associated with mHA use. CONCLUSIONS The use of mHAs among middle-aged and older adults is becoming more common globally; nevertheless, there are still people unable to use mHAs properly because of lack of experience and knowledge. Strategies are needed to encourage the reliable usage of mHAs among those who may need it the most by improving self-confidence and better articulating benefits.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiki Watanabe ◽  
Tsukasa Yoshida ◽  
Takashi Nakagata ◽  
Naomi Sawada ◽  
Yosuke Yamada ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPrevious epidemiological studies have demonstrated the prevalence and relationship of various factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults; however, few have examined the status of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. In this study, we aimed to, 1) evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test, which is potentially a useful screening tool for sarcopenia, and 2) determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe conducted face-to-face surveys of 525 adults, who were aged 40–91 years and resided in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan to evaluate the validity of finger-circle test. The finger-circle test evaluated calf circumference by referring to an illustration printed on the survey form. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) was plotted to evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test for screening sarcopenia and compared to that evaluated by skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured using bioimpedance. We also conducted multisite population-based cross-sectional anonymous mail surveys of 9337 adults, who were aged 40–97 years and resided in Settsu and Hannan Cities, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling by sex and age in the elementary school zones of their respective cities. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to explore associations between characteristics and prevalence of sarcopenia.ResultsSarcopenia, defined by SMI, was moderately predicted by a finger-circle test response showing that the subject’s calf was smaller than their finger-circle (AUROC: 0.729, < 65 years; 0.653, ≥65 years); such subjects were considered to have sarcopenia. In mail surveys, prevalence of sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test was higher in older subjects (approximately 16%) than in middle-aged subjects (approximately 8–9%). In a multiple regression model, the factors associated with sarcopenia were age, body mass index, smoking status, self-reported health, and number of meals in all the participants.ConclusionsSarcopenia, screened by the finger-circle test, was present not only among older adults but also among middle-aged adults. These results may provide useful indications for developing public health programs, not only for the prevention, but especially for the management of sarcopenia.Trial registrationUMIN000036880, registered prospectively May 29, 2019, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000042027


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej ◽  
Agnieszka Ćwirlej-Sozańska ◽  
Justyna Kilian ◽  
Natalia Wołoszyn ◽  
Bernard Sozański ◽  
...  

AbstractHandgrip strength (HGS) is used as a biomarker for the state of health of older people, but the number of research publications containing the normative values of HGS in older adult populations is limited. The aim of the study was to define reference values and factors associated with HGS in older adults living in southeastern Poland. A cross-sectional study including 405 participants aged 65 and older was conducted. Handgrip strength for the dominant hand was assessed by the average of three trials using a JAMAR dynamometer. The sample was categorized into the following age groups: 65–69 years, 70–74 years, 75–79 years, 80–84 years, 85 and over. The average HGS was 19.98 kg (16.91 kg for women and 26.19 kg for men). There was a decrease in handgrip strength across the age range in both sexes. The average handgrip strength of the older people was 17.97 kg (14.47 kg for women and 25.66 kg for men) for those aged 80–85 and 16.68 kg (13.51 kg for women and 21.77 kg for men) in the group over 85 years old. In both sexes, marital status was an independent factor associated with reduced handgrip strength. In conclusion, this study described, for the first time, handgrip strength values for the southeastern Polish population aged ≥ 65 years according to age and gender.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-19
Author(s):  
Robert E. Mann ◽  
Wah Lap Cheung ◽  
Gina Stoduto ◽  
Christine M. Wickens ◽  
Anca R. Ialomiteanu ◽  
...  

This study examined the associations of cannabis use, alcohol use and alcohol problems with probable anxiety and mood disorders (AMD) in young, middle-aged and older adults. Method: Data are based on the CAMH Monitor, an ongoing cross-sectional telephone survey of Ontario adults aged 18 years and older. For the purposes of the current study, a merged dataset from the years 2001 through 2009 inclusive was separated into three individual datasets: 18-34 year olds (n=4,211), 35-54 year olds (n=7,874), and 55 years of age and older (n=6,778). The survey included the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire, which provides a measure of probable AMD for the general population. Logistic regression analyses examined the odds of probable AMD in three age groups associated with alcohol measures (number of drinks per day and alcohol problems (AUDIT 8+)) and cannabis use, while controlling for self-reported physical health, religious service attendance, and demographic factors. Due to listwise deletion, the logistic regression models were based on reduced samples. Results: Lifetime cannabis use and past year cannabis use predicted probable AMD in young and middle-aged adults, but only lifetime cannabis use predicted probable AMD among older adults. Alcohol problems predicted probable AMD among middle aged and older adults, but not among younger adults. No consistent link between recent alcohol consumption and probable AMD was observed. Conclusion: These analyses suggest that the impact of alcohol and cannabis use and problems on probable AMD may differ across age groups.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Ge ◽  
Bee Hoon Heng ◽  
Woan Shin Tan

Abstract Background Socioeconomic status is a crucial determinant of social isolation. However, little is known whether the associations between different indicators of socioeconomic status and social isolation vary across age groups. This study examined the association of individual socioeconomic status indicators with social isolation in three age groups: young (21-44 years), middle-aged (45-64 years), and older adults (≥65 years). Methods Cross-sectional data for 1,930 representative community-dwelling adults aged 21 and above in the Central region of Singapore was used. The 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale was used to assess social isolation. Socioeconomic status was measured using education level, employment status, personal income, housing type and self-perceived money sufficiency). Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between each SES indicator and social isolation in each age group. Results Each socioeconomic indicator showed a clear gradient with social isolation and significant age disparities were found in their relationship. Socioeconomic status indicators significantly associated with social isolation were income (R2 change=2.5%) and self-perceived money insufficiency (R2 change=1.5%) in young adults, education (R2 change=0.5%), employment status (R2 change=1.3%), income (R2 change=0.8%), housing type (R2 change=1.9%) and self-perceived money insufficiency (R2 change=2.0%) in middle-aged adults, and housing type (R2 change=1.3%) and self-perceived money insufficiency (R2 change=3.7%) in older adults when adjusting for demographics and other indicators. Conclusions The influence of individual socioeconomic status indicators on social isolation varied across age groups. This study provides a rationale for the choice of socioeconomic status indicator and specific interventions need to target different socioeconomic status groups for different age groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 89 ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristien Scheepmans ◽  
Koen Milisen ◽  
Koen Vanbrabant ◽  
Louis Paquay ◽  
Hendrik Van Gansbeke ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 1179173X1983335
Author(s):  
Cyrus Ahalt ◽  
Timothy Buisker ◽  
Janet Myers ◽  
Brie Williams

Background: In jails and prisons worldwide, older adults are among the fastest growing demographic groups. Criminal justice–involved populations smoke tobacco at high rates. Older adults are also disproportionate smokers and have more difficulty quitting smoking than other age groups. Yet, little is known about tobacco use or knowledge and attitudes toward smoking cessation among the growing population of incarcerated older adults. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey study of 102 adults aged 55 years or older recently incarcerated in an urban jail using items from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). Results: More than 70% of participants reported being current smokers despite strong knowledge (95%) of the connection between smoking and serious illness. More than half of current smokers reported a past failed quit attempt (62%) and/or said they would like to quit (60%). Conclusions: High rates of tobacco use in this population suggest that correctional institutions represent a critical site for the delivery of appropriate smoking cessation interventions to older adults, including integrated treatment approaches for those with co-occurring behavioral health diagnoses.


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