Health behaviour and its determinants in elderly patients with chronic diseases: evidence from Jiangsu Province, China

Community-embedded follow-up management intervention for geriatric primary care: a mixed-methods study of an integrated health services model

BACKGROUND

To propose a community-embedded follow-up management model to provide health services for elderly patients with osteoporosis who live alone.

METHODS

Researchers randomly selected 396 people with osteoporosis living alone from five communities in Nantong, China, for the study. These participants were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. Twenty-four community physicians in five communities provided professional support based on a community-embedded follow-up management model. Participants completed quantitative questionnaires at baseline and after the 6-month follow-up intervention, and some participants underwent semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The primary outcome is the effectiveness of the community-embedded follow-up management model in improving the quality of life of elderly patients with osteoporosis living alone. Based on an objective quantitative assessment, the qualitative study explains and adds essential components of this community-based follow-up management model.

RESULTS

The quantitative study showed that scores in physical functioning, ability to perform daily activities, self-efficacy, and mental status were significantly improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The most significant improvements were found in "mental status" (p = 0.012) and "self-care skills" (p = 0.003). The qualitative study reported the essential elements of a community healthcare model for older people living alone with osteoporosis, including professional support, personalized services, social support, and empowerment.

CONCLUSIONS

Community-embedded follow-up management meets the need for elderly patients with osteoporosis living alone. It helps to improve health perception, promote physical and mental health, and optimize the quality of life in this population. Personalized services and professional support are two major contributing factors to effective embedded follow-up management in the community.

Chronic disease prevention literacy and its influence on behavior and lifestyle: a cross-sectional study in Xinjiang, China

OBJECTIVE

To understand the status and influencing factors of Kyrgyz chronic disease prevention literacy, and to explore the impact of chronic disease prevention literacy on behavior and living habits.

METHOD

Using stratified sampling method, Kyrgyz residents aged ≥ 18 years in Artush City, Aheqi County and Ucha County were surveyed by questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 10,468 subjects were investigated, and the literacy rate of chronic disease prevention in Kyrgyz was 11.2%. The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the literacy rate of chronic disease prevention was low among people with low education level, herdsmen, low income, urban and chronic disease (P < 0.05). Residents with chronic disease prevention literacy were more inclined to not smoke, not drink alcohol, drink milk every day, eat soy products every month, eat whole grains every day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The literacy level of chronic disease prevention of Kyrgyz residents in Kezhou has been improved, but it is still at a low level compared with another subcategories. The behavioral lifestyle is related to the literacy level of chronic disease prevention. Therefore, local health promotion strategies should be developed to improve the literacy level of chronic disease prevention and promote the formation of good behavioral and living habits.

Evaluation of Health Pattern and Stress Levels among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Treatment-A Cross Sectional Study

Alcohol consumption is linked to over 200 diseases and injuries. It is also classified as a risk factor for several types of neoplasms as well as infectious diseases (i.e., HIV and tuberculosis). In 2019, among people aged 25 to 49, alcohol use was the leading risk factor for attributable burden of disease. There are many factors that affect alcohol drinking patterns such as social and economic status, social norms, cultural customs, availability of alcohol, etc. Stress also plays a significant role in the process of developing alcohol addiction. The aim of our study was to examine health patterns and stress levels among patients undergoing alcohol addiction treatment. The study sample consisted of 104 patients who were treated in a hospital ward due to alcohol dependence. Three standardized questionnaire tools were used to measure the sense of coherence and the level of stress among those patients. The main results suggest that the level of perceived stress correlated negatively with all dimensions of sense of coherence and all indicators of health behaviors, however, age was positively correlated with positive mental attitude, proper eating habits, and health behaviors. In conclusion, it is worth noting that developing patterns for positive health behaviors will make it possible to avoid alcohol dependence or reinforce the treatment results if alcohol dependence syndrome occurs.

Influence of Nurse-Led Health Education on Self-Management Ability, Satisfaction, and Compliance of Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Based on Knowledge, Belief, and Practice Model

Objective

Knowledge, belief, and behavior model (knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP)) is known as a cognitive model. Health education is important to the prognosis of patients, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, the investigation regarding health education based on the KAP model is few. Thus, this work is aimed at analyzing the influence of nurse-led health education on self-management ability, satisfaction, and compliance of elderly patients with COPD based on knowledge, belief, and practice model.

Methods

60 elderly patients with COPD cured in our hospital from January 2019 to April 2021 were enrolled for the study. The patients were randomly assigned to control group (n = 30) and study group (n = 30). The former group received routine nursing, and the latter group accepted health education based on “knowledge, belief, and practice” model. Finally, the scores of nursing satisfaction, KAP score, compliance rate, self-management level, pulmonary function, and life quality were compared in the two groups.

Results

The nursing satisfaction of the study group (100.00%) was higher than that (83.33%) of the control group (P < 0.05). The scores of knowledge, attitude, and behavior were remarkably higher in the study group than in the control group after nursing (P < 0.05). Moreover, KAP scores also significantly increased in the study group after nursing. The compliance rate of the study group (93.33%) was higher than that of the control group (66.67%) (P < 0.05). After nursing, the scores of symptom management, daily life management, emotion management, information management, and management efficiency were higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, pulmonary functions were improved in the two groups following nursing. Compared with the control groups, the 6 min walking distance, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% were higher in the study group (P < 0.05). After nursing, the scores of life quality were reduced in the two groups. The scores of physiological function, psychological function, social function, and health self-cognition were lower in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Based on the model of knowledge, belief, and practice, nurse-led health education can successfully enhance the self-management ability, satisfaction, and compliance of elderly COPD patients.