P23 Travel behavior and IADL evaluation of elderly people

Abstract

BackgroundOutside activity is one of the most important factors affecting health of elderly community dwellers. The frequency of going out is considered of useful health indicator. Previous studies showed that the frequency of going out of car users is higher than that of the others transportation users. However, the choice of the transportation means is different by the functional capacity of each individual. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the choice of the transportation means, the frequency of going out and the functional capacity in elderly community dwellers. MethodsThe questionnaire survey was conducted to 1,069 rural elderly community dwellers of 65 years old or more in Maibara City, Shiga. Self-reported functional capacity was assessed using the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scores (maximum score 13 points). The public transportation of Maibara city has the railway (four lines and five stations), six bus lines and two types of Demand-response transportation. ResultsThe respondent was 45% (man), 55% (female), and the age was 49% (65–74 years old) and 51% (75 years old or more). The driving license holder was 62%. There is a correlation in the frequency of going out, IADL scores and the choice of the transportation means. The mean IADL score was 12.0 points among those going out 4–7 times/week; 11.3 points for 1–3 times/week; 9.8 points for 1–3 times/month; and 6.0 points among those going out less than 1 time/months. The IADL score changed by the choice of transportation means. Car users had a mean score of 12.0 points, public transportation users (including buses and demand-response transportations) 10.8 points and door-to-door service users (including taxis and family׳s picking up and dropping off) 9.6 points. The frequency of going out also changed by the choice of transportation means. The frequency of going out of the car users was 4.1 times/week, of the public transportation users was 2.4 times/week, and of door-to-door service users was 2.3 times/week. Significance analysis was conducted with the one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test. ConclusionsThe door-to-door service users who is limited the going-out had lower score of IADL and frequency of going out than the car users and the public transportation users. Society needs to invest in the provision of transportation system that suits the functional capacity of each individual to keep or increase activity of vulnerable group of people.