scholarly journals How Many Older Informal Caregivers Are There in Europe? Comparison of Estimates of Their Prevalence from Three European Surveys

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9531
Author(s):  
Aviad Tur-Sinai ◽  
Andrea Teti ◽  
Alexander Rommel ◽  
Valentina Hlebec ◽  
Giovanni Lamura
Keyword(s):  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
European Population ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Average Share ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
European Health Interview Survey ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

Informal caregivers are people providing some type of unpaid, ongoing assistance to a person with a chronic illness or disability. Long-term care measures and policies cannot take place without taking into account the quantitatively crucial role played by informal caregivers. We use the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS), and the Study on Health and Ageing in Europe (SHARE) to measure the prevalence of informal caregivers in the European population, and analyze associated socio-demographic factors. This rate ranges between about 13 percent in Portugal and Spain, and more than 22 percent in Luxembourg, Belgium, and Denmark. It declines in older age groups and, on average, is lower in men than in women in all countries studied, and lower among the poorly educated compared to those with higher levels of education. However, large variance was observed in the average share of informal caregivers for most countries between the three surveys. Our findings, estimated through the three surveys, reveal common trends, but also a series of disparities. Additional research will be needed to enable policy makers to access a richer and more harmonized body of data, allowing them to adopt truly evidence-based and targeted policies and interventions in this field.

Cross-national data on informal caregivers of older people with long-term care needs in the European population: time for a more coordinated and comparable approach

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Aviad Tur-Sinai ◽  
Andrea Teti ◽  
Alexander Rommel ◽  
Valentina Hlebec ◽  
Stecy Yghemonos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
European Population ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

Abstract To promote long-term care policies for older adults, accurate mapping of the often invisible and insufficiently recognized role of their informal caregivers is needed. This paper measures the prevalence of informal caregivers in the European population, illustrates current difficulties in gathering unequivocal information on this topic and deals with the scientific and policy implications of the problem. Using the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) and the Study on Health and Ageing in Europe (SHARE), the current difficulties in gathering unequivocal information on this topic are illustrated. In most countries, the share of informal caregivers varies, sometimes markedly, among the three surveys. As for the sex of caregivers, while confirming the well-known higher prevalence of caregivers among women than among men, large variations emerge across the three surveys in most countries in respect of the two sexes. The takeaway message of the paper is that it is urgent to promote international concerted action in gathering comprehensive informal caregiving information and/or exploring in greater depth the different intercultural understandings of informal care itself.

Hungarian diet and nutritional status survey – The OTAP2009 study I. Nutritional status of the Hungarian population

2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (26) ◽  
pp. 1023-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Martos ◽  
Viktória Anna Kovács ◽  
Márta Bakacs ◽  
Csilla Kaposvári ◽  
Andrea Lugasi
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Abdominal Obesity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Participation Rate ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
European Health Interview Survey ◽  
And Gender

Obesity is a leading public health problem, but representative data on measured prevalence among Hungarian adults has been missing since the late eighties. Aim and method: Joining in European Health Interview Survey the aim of the OTAP2009 study was to provide data representative by age and gender on the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among Hungarian adults based on their measured anthropometric data. Results: Participation rate was 35% (n = 1165). Data shows that nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. 26.2% of men and 30.4% of women are obese. Prevalence of morbid obesity is 3.1% and 2.6% in men and women, respectively. Abdominal obesity is more prevalent among women than men (51.0% vs. 33.2%), and rate is increasing parallel with age in both gender. In elderly, 55% of men and almost 80% of women are abdominally obese. Conclusions: Besides interventions of population level for tackling obesity, individual preventive measures are indispensable. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1023–1030.

scholarly journals Investigating unmet need for healthcare using the European Health Interview Survey: a cross-sectional survey study of Luxembourg

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e048860
Author(s):  
Valerie Moran ◽  
Marc Suhrcke ◽  
Maria Ruiz-Castell ◽  
Jessica Barré ◽  
Laetitia Huiart
Keyword(s):  
Dental Care ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Wait Times ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
Prescribed Medicines ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

ObjectivesWe investigate the prevalence of unmet need arising from wait times, distance/transportation and financial affordability using the European Health Interview Survey. We explore associations between individual characteristics and the probability of reporting unmet need.DesignCross-sectional survey conducted between February and December 2014.Setting and participants4004 members of the resident population in private households registered with the health insurance fund in Luxembourg aged 15 years and over.Outcome measuresSix binary variables that measured unmet need arising from wait time, distance/transportation and affordability of medical, dental and mental healthcare and prescribed medicines among those who reported a need for care.ResultsThe most common barrier to access arose from wait times (32%) and the least common from distance/transportation (4%). Dental care (12%) was most often reported as unaffordable, followed by prescribed medicines (6%), medical (5%) and mental health (5%) care. Respondents who reported bad/very bad health were associated with a higher risk of unmet need compared with those with good/very good health (wait: OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.53 to 3.80, distance/transportation: OR 7.12, 95% CI 2.91 to 17.44, afford medical care: OR 5.35, 95% CI 2.39 to 11.95, afford dental care: OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.86 to 5.71, afford prescribed medicines: OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.71, afford mental healthcare: OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.25 to 10.30). Income between the fourth and fifth quintiles was associated with a lower risk of unmet need for dental care (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.53), prescribed medicines (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.82) and mental healthcare (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.61) compared with income between the first and second quintiles.ConclusionsRecent and planned reforms to address waiting times and financial barriers to accessing healthcare may help to address unmet need. In addition, policy-makers should consider additional policies targeted at high-risk groups with poor health and low incomes.

scholarly journals Comparison of different anthropometric measures in the adult population in Serbia as indicators of obesity: data from the National Health Survey 2013

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 2246-2255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miloš Ž Maksimović ◽  
Jelena M Gudelj Rakić ◽  
Hristina D Vlajinac ◽  
Nadja D Vasiljević ◽  
Marina I Nikić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Health ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Health Interview Survey ◽  
Health Interview ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to compare different indicators of obesity in the Serbian adult population.DesignCross-sectional study. A stratified, two-stage, national-representative random sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample. Data sources were questionnaires created according to the European Health Interview Survey questionnaire. Measurements of weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were performed using standard procedures. Anthropometric measures included BMI, WC and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).SettingData for the study were obtained from the 2013 National Health Survey, performed in line with the EUROSTAT recommendations for performance of the European Health Interview Survey.SubjectsAdults aged ≥20 years.ResultsAccording to BMI, out of the whole studied population (12 460 adults of both sexes) 2·4 % were underweight, 36·4 % overweight and 22·4 % obese. Using WC and WHtR as measures of adiposity showed that 22·5 % and 42·8 % of participants were overweight and 39·8 % and 25·3 % were obese, respectively. Men and women differed significantly in all variables observed. Overweight was more frequent in men and obesity in women regardless of adiposity measure used.ConclusionsIn spite of strong correlations between BMI, WC and WHtR, substantial discrepancies between these three measures in the assessment of overweight and obesity were found, especially in some age groups. Which of these anthropometric measures should be used, or whether two or all three of them should be applied, depends on their associations with cardiovascular or some other disease of interest.

scholarly journals Országos Táplálkozás- és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat – OTÁP2014. V. A magyar lakosság vitaminbevitele

2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (33) ◽  
pp. 1302-1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erzsébet Schreiberné Molnár ◽  
Zsuzsanna Nagy-Lőrincz ◽  
Barbara Nagy ◽  
Márta Bakacs ◽  
Orsolya Kis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Vitamin Intake ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
The Difference ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

Abstract: Introduction and aim: The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey was implemented on a sub-sample of the European Health Interview Survey. In this paper, the authors present the data on the vitamin intake of the Hungarian population. Method: The survey represents the vitamin intake of the Hungarian non-institutionalised adult population of 18 years and older. There are significant differences between men’s and women’s vitamin intake. Results: The intake of all water-soluble vitamins except for vitamin C is higher in men than in women, and the difference between the genders regarding the intake of vitamin E and D is significant. The intake of vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin and vitamin C is in line with the recommendations, however, there is an unfavourable decrease in the intake of vitamin A and β-carotene in the case of men compared to the previous survey. Vitamin D and folic acid intakes are critically low, particularly in the elderly, and mainly in case of vitamin D. The population’s intake of panthotenic acid and biotin did not reach the recommendations. Conclusion: In order to reach the dietary reference intakes and to prevent deficiencies, it is necessary to inform the population and to make healthy food choices available. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(33): 1302–1313.

Is the European Health Interview Survey online yet? Response and net sample composition of a web-based data collection

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Braekman ◽  
Rana Charafeddine ◽  
Stefaan Demarest ◽  
Sabine Drieskens ◽  
Jean Tafforeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Mixed Mode ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Interview Survey ◽  
Health Interview ◽  
Sample Composition ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

Abstract Background The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) provides cross-national data on health status, health care and health determinants. So far, 10 of the 30 member states (MS) opted for web-based questionnaires within mixed-mode designs but none used it as the sole mode. In the context of future EHIS, the response rate and net sample composition of a web-only approach was tested. Methods A Belgian study with a target sample size of 1000 (age: 16–85) was organized using the EHIS wave 3 model questionnaire. The sample was selected according to a multistage, clustered sampling procedure with geographical stratification. Field substitution was applied; non-participating households were replaced by similar households regarding statistical sector, sex and age. There was one reminder letter and a €10 conditional incentive. Results Considering all substitutions, a 16% response rate was obtained after sending one reminder. Elderly, Brussels Capital inhabitants, people living without a partner and those with a non-Belgian nationality were less responding. By design, there were no differences between the initial and final net sample regarding substitution characteristics. Nevertheless, people living without a partner, non-Belgians and lower educated people remain underrepresented. Conclusion There was a low response rate, particularly for some population groups. The response rate was lower than those of MS using mixed-mode designs including web, especially these comprising interviewer-based approaches. Despite the long and complex questionnaire, there was a low break off rate. So far, web-only data collection is not an acceptable strategy for population-based health surveys but efforts to increase the response should be further explored.

scholarly journals Factors associated with activity limitation: are the risk patterns the same across Europe?

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Von Der Lippe ◽  
J Baumert
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Activity Limitation ◽  
Promotion Policies ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
Consistent Picture ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

Abstract Background The Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) is part of the Minimum European Health Module and has been shown to be a valid indicator of functional limitations. The present study aims to identify determinants of GALI prevalence among adults in Europe. Methods We used data from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) Wave 2 which included adults aged 15 years and older and was conducted between 2013 and 2015 in all European Union member states. We examined patterns regarding age, sex, education and chronic diseases. After excluding some inconsistencies in the data the sample size was 284,732 respondents from 26 countries. When making comparisons across countries one has to bear in mind that the data was collected through different modes, the indicators were obtained through various instruments and in some countries interviews were conducted not always with the target person, but with a proxy person. Results Our findings revealed that age and education are very strong determinants of functional limitation in all countries. Sex showed to be mostly non-significantly associated, however in some Eastern and Southern countries it plays a significant role. The additional factors examined showed less consistent picture. While chronic diseases with stronger disease burden were associated with higher limitation, diseases that are well treatable (like high blood pressure) showed in some countries strong associations with functional limitation while in others there was no clear relationship. Conclusions Having in mind the aging of the population, the problem with the functional limitation in higher ages will increase furthermore. This is an issue which should be taken into account in health promotion policies. The role of chronic diseases and their association with disability cannot be neglected. Prevention policies should put more effort in identifying earlier the vulnerable population (e.g. less educated) and promote health care initiatives. Key messages Age and education are strong determinants of functional limitation across all European countries. Sex showed inconsistent patterns. Functional limitation is in general strongly associated with chronic disease. However, differences in Europe were found with regard to some specific conditions.

Health-Enhancing Physical Activity in Europe—Combined Aerobic Physical Activity and Muscle-Strengthening Exercise Guideline Adherence Among 280,605 Adults From 28 European Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jason A. Bennie ◽  
Glen H. Wiesner
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Guideline Adherence ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Muscle Strengthening ◽  
Health Interview Survey ◽  
Health Interview ◽  
Strengthening Exercise ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
European Health ◽  
European Health Interview Survey

Background: Compared with engaging in aerobic physical activity (aerobic PA; eg, walking, running, cycling) or muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE; eg, weight/resistance training) alone, epidemiological evidence suggests that combining both is linked to better health. However, the assessment of both PA modes is rare in health surveillance. This article provides the first multicountry study on the descriptive epidemiology of combined moderate to vigorous PA–MSE guideline adherence. Methods: Data were drawn from the European Health Interview Survey wave 2 (2013–2014), comprising samples from 28 European countries (n = 280,605). Self-reported aerobic PA and MSE were assessed using the validated European Health Interview Survey Physical Activity Questionnaire. The authors calculated the weighted proportions meeting the health-enhancing PA guideline (aerobic PA ≥ 150 min/wk and MSE ≥ 2 sessions/wk). Poisson regression assessed the prevalence ratios for meeting the combined guideline across sociodemographic factors and by country. Results: A total of 15.0% met the health-enhancing PA guideline. The lowest prevalence was from respondents from Southern and Central European countries (Romania, Poland, and Croatia, range: 0.5%–5.7%). Poorer self-rated health, older age, lower income, being female, and being obese had a lower likelihood of meeting the combined guideline. Conclusions: Most European adults do not meet the health-enhancing PA guideline that includes both aerobic PA and MSE.

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