Older Adults' Socio-Demographic Determinants of Health Related to Promoting Health and Getting Preventive Health Care in Southern United States: A Secondary Analysis of a Survey Project Dataset.

Udoka Okpalauwaekwe,Chih-Ying Li,Huey-Ming Tzeng

doi:10.3390/nursrep11010012

Abstract

Background: This exploratory survey study examined the relationship between older adults’ five socio-demographic determinants (urban/rural residence, gender, age, marital status, and education) and their self-reported perception of importance, desire to perform, and ability to perform nine self-care behaviors related to promoting health and getting preventive health care. Methods: We reported a secondary analysis of a dataset from an exploratory survey project; we analyzed 2015–2016 retrospective data collected from a cross-sectional survey study, including 123 adults aged 65 years and older living in southern United States. Data were collected from the Patient Action Inventory for Self-Care and a demographic questionnaire and analyzed using binary and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Advancing age, marital separation, and holding less than a high school education were significantly associated with at least one of the unfavorable perceptions of the importance, the desire to perform, and the ability to perform three self-care behaviors. These three behaviors were: (1) creating habits that will improve health and prevent disease, (2) discussing the use of health screening tests with healthcare providers, and (3) joining in local health screening or wellness events. Gender and urban/rural residence were not significant. Conclusions: Comprehensive health care should include an individual’s socio-demographic context and self-care perception of importance, desire, and ability.

Highlights

Social determinants of health are complex and inter-related, which require multilevel approaches to eliminate health disparities such as environmental and occupational lunch disease and accessing diagnostic testing [1,2]
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A: A positive response = Yes to being important, desirable to perform, or able to perform. This exploratory study investigated the relationships between five socio-demographic determinants and the perception of importance, desire to perform, and ability to perform nine self-care behaviors relating to promoting health and getting preventive services among community-dwelling older adults living in southern United States

Summary

Introduction

Social determinants of health are complex and inter-related, which require multilevel approaches to eliminate health disparities such as environmental and occupational lunch disease and accessing diagnostic testing [1,2]. Accessing health promotion and preventive health care (e.g., laboratory and public health services) during the COVID−19 pandemic is ever more challenging [2]. Health care and social service providers’ understanding of socio-demographic determinants of health can improve overall health metrics in the United States [4]. As indicated in the report of the 2018 Profile of Older Americans [10], the population group aged 65 years and older increased by 34% between 2007 and 2017. A more recent data showed that in the first two quarters of 2018, 20% of older Americans aged 85 years and older needed help with personal care, compared to 9% for adults aged 75–84 years old and 4%

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Conclusion