How Ageism Affects the Health Quality and Interventional Strategies among the Elderly Population

Abstract

<p>年齡歧視是對高齡者產生刻板印象、偏見與差別對待之負面認知態度及行為，是全球嚴重議題，本文探討年齡歧視如何影響高齡者健康品質與介入改善策略。年齡歧視造成健康品質負面效應包括：被排除接受醫療服務與治療、缺少工作機會、心智疾病、身體疾病、被排除參與臨床研究、影響生活品質與幸福感等11項健康領域。健康專業人員與高齡者本身對年齡歧視也造成醫療決策與溝通模式負面效應。改善年齡歧視介入策略包括：運用高齡正面教育與接觸體驗模式、同理心擬真訓練與實證研究彌補實務落差。結語：年齡歧視存在於社會、高齡者、健康專業人員與醫療體系，藉由促進世代間相互瞭解，跨專業之教育訓練與研究合作，以改善年齡歧視，提升高齡者健康品質。</p> <p> </p><p>Ageism is a critical global problem that is defined as negative attitudes and behaviors toward older individuals, including stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. The aim of this review article was to elucidate how ageism affects the health quality of older individuals and the interventional strategies developed to combat ageism. Previous studies have highlighted the adverse effects of ageism on health quality among 11 health domains, including denied access to health care and treatment, lack of employment opportunities, mental illness, physical illness, exclusion from health research, and poor quality of life and well-being. The previous studies revealed that among health professionals and older individuals, ageism was associated with negative effects on medical decision-making and communication. Moreover, interventional strategies developed to combat ageism involved the use of positive education and contact experience models, empathy simulation training, and evidence-based research to bridge gaps in practice. In conclusion, ageism is a common phenomenon in society and health care systems and among older individuals and health care professionals. Ageism problems must be resolved and the health quality of older individuals must be improved through intergenerational understanding and through interprofessional teamwork in educational training and research. </p> <p> </p>