Perceived Health Status Research Articles

Health status associated with SARS-CoV-2 risk perceptions in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe

Background & Aims. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on health in countries of every income level. While much is known about risk factors for COVID-19 severity, less is known about the relationship between COVID related risk perceptions and behaviors, particularly in low-income settings. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between existing health status and COVID-19 risk perceptions and behaviors in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. Methods. Data for this study came from a cross-sectional survey conducted simultaneously among 1158 adults in Sierra Leone and 1154 in Zimbabwe during July and August of 2022. Respondents were recruited from among communities served by the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone (CHASL) and Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals (ZACH), both members of the Africa Christian Health Associations Network (ACHAP). Results. The relationship between health status and COVID-19 risk perceptions and behaviors varied significantly by health condition. Cardiovascular disease was significantly associated with heightened perceptions of COVID-19 risk, heightened perceived safety of COVID vaccines, and subsequent greater vaccine acceptance while cancer was likewise statistically significant in each of lower perceived susceptibility, perceived safety, and vaccination uptake. Similarly, obesity was associated with both lower perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 and decreased perceived safety of COVID vaccines. Conclusion. Results suggest that the association between health conditions and COVID perceptions and behaviors is neither clear nor consistent across a variety of NCDs. Hence, findings from this study may inform public health interventions aimed at reducing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, including increasing vaccine acceptance and uptake in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. Further, findings potentially have broader implications for understanding how health status is associated with COVID-19 risk perceptions in other LMICs.

Multiple behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases among the adolescent population in Brazil: the analysis derived from the Brazilian national survey of school health 2019

BackgroundHealth risk behaviors often emerge or intensify during adolescence and tend to co-occur, exposing individuals to an even greater risk for the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The likelihood of exhibiting multiple health risk factors also increases throughout life and is associated with sociodemographic characteristics contributing to their escalation and severity. In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze the association between sociodemographic characteristics and multiple behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases among the adolescent population in Brazil.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilized data from the Brazilian National Survey of School Health 2019. The sample comprised 121,580 adolescents aged 13 to 17. The analyzed variables included irregular intake of fruits and vegetables, regular consumption of soft drinks and treats, insufficient physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. To analyze MBRFs, a classification ranging from zero to five was created, and associations were estimated using Odds Ratio (OR) with the respective 95% confidence interval (CI). The Backward method was employed for the multivariate regression model, utilizing ordinal logistic regression.ResultsAdolescents without behavioral risk factors for NCDs constituted only 3.9% (95% CI 3.7–4.1). The most prevalent categories were two and three MBRFs, accounting for 28.3% (95% CI: 27.7–28.8) and 27.0% (95% CI: 26.5–27.5), respectively. Adolescents aged 16 and 17 (ORadj: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.32–1.48), residing in the Brazilian Southeast (ORadj: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.52–1.81), and those reporting poor or very poor self-rated health (ORadj: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.87–2.25) were more likely to exhibit multiple behavioral risk factors. Conversely, male adolescents (adjusted OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.62–0.69), those of mixed race (adjusted OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.87–0.97), and residents of rural areas (adjusted OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.70–0.84) were less likely to manifest MBRFs for NCDs.ConclusionThe majority of adolescents displayed MBRFs for NCDs, positively associated with age, region, and perceived health status. This underscores the necessity for healthcare promotional interventions throughout the life cycle, as these behaviors may persist into adulthood.

Correlation between symptom status, health perception, and spiritual well-being in heart failure patients: A structural equation modeling approach.

To explore predictors of spiritual well-being behaviors among heart failure patients based on Wilson and Cleary's conceptual model of health-related quality of life and to clarify the interrelationships among these variables. A descriptive and correlational study design was used. This study included 202 heart failure patients treated between October 2020 and July 2021. Data were collected using the Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure, Perception of Health Scale, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Descriptive analysis, correlation, and structural equation modeling were performed. Characteristic factors positively affected spiritual well-being both directly (β = 0.19, p = 0.007) and indirectly (β = 0.19; CI (0.106; 0.311)). The direct relationship between health perception and spiritual well-being was significant (β = 0.83, p < 0.05). Symptom status acted as an essential mediator between model variables and spiritual well-being (β = -0.28; CI (-0.449; -0.133)). Comorbidity and symptom status also influence spiritual well-being through health perceptions. These variables explain 77% of the variance in spiritual well-being. The modified structural equation modeling based on Wilson and Cleary's conceptual model fits well in predicting spiritual well-being in patients with heart failure. Spiritual well-being was reported to be poor, and changes in spiritual well-being were predicted by age, educational level, marital status, comorbidity, symptom status, and health perception. The results can be applied to patients with heart failure and may serve as a guide for assessment and interventions for improving spiritual well-being. This study mainly concludes that symptom status and perceived health status affect spiritual well-being in heart failure patients. Symptom relief and improvement in perceived health status interventions may help enhance spiritual well-being in this population. Future studies are needed to investigate the different predictor's effects on spiritual well-being and examine whether symptom management and health status-enhancing interventions result in improved spiritual well-being in the heart failure population. This study was reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for cross-sectional studies. No patient or public contribution.

Factors influencing coping skills of middle-aged adults in COVID-19, South Korea.

In light of the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, there is a compelling imperative to enhance the COVID-19 coping capacity among middle-aged adults within the South Korean population. Consequently, there is a need for further research endeavors in this area. This study aims to explore and identify the factors influencing the coping skills of middle-aged adults in COVID-19, South Korea. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. Participants were 147 middle-aged adults living in Seoul, Geounggi-do, and Chungchung-do in South Korea. Data included demographics, coping skills, the impact of the event, perceived health status, psychological wellbeing, and family support. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 25.0 program. Data were collected from March to July 2020. The regression model was significant (F = 13.56, p < 0.001), and the adjusted R-squared representing the explanatory power of the model was 0.63. The strongest predictor was perceived health status (β = 0.34), followed by family support (β = 0.31), impact of event (β = -0.24), underlying disease (β = -0.13), and economic status (β = 0.11). This study suggests that to improve the coping skills of middle-aged adults with COVID-19, their perceived health status and family support should be strengthened, and the impact of the event should be decreased. Also, it needs that underlying diseases are managed and economic status is improved. Nurses need to pay more attention to the influencing factors to improve the coping skills of middle-aged adults in COVID-19, South Korea.

Preferences and perspectives regarding telehealth exercise interventions for adults with cystic fibrosis: A qualitative study.

Physical activity and exercise are key components in the management of cystic fibrosis (CF). Completing exercise programs online may minimize the risk of cross-infection and increase access for people with CF. This study aimed to understand the perspectives of people with CF regarding intervention content for a telehealth exercise program. Individual semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted in adults with CF purposefully sampled for age, disease severity, and social demographics. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically by two researchers independently. Participants were 23 adults with CF (14 females) aged from 21 to 60 years. Three major themes (subthemes) were generated: "Personalizing components to an exercise program" (customizing an exercise program to the individual person and their unique health and exercise needs, enjoyment and variety of exercise activities, accessibility and exercise fitting around competing demands or commitments), "The importance of maintaining connections" (challenges regarding face-to-face interactions for people with CF, accountability of scheduled exercise sessions with others, shared experiences between people with CF and specialist support from the CF care team), and "Monitoring health and exercise" (perception of health status and monitoring and recording exercise participation and health). This study provides important information regarding the preferences of adults with CF for telehealth exercise interventions. Interventions should be tailored to the individual person with CF, include an opportunity to maintain connections with peers and the CF multidisciplinary team, and provide a method to monitor progress over time.

Piloting a Big Data Epidemiology Approach to Support Frail, Homebound, and Bedridden People.

Frail, homebound, and bedridden people (FHBP) are people living at home whose daily life is physically limited to the boundary of their houses because of their ongoing health, energy, and psychosocial or socio-functional impairments. This definition needs a scientific, systematic, and data-driven view of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and adverse events experienced by FHBP. Thus, we piloted a big data epidemiology approach (Multiple Correspondence Analysis and data visualization) from 300 survey responses about FHBP experiences and identified a positive correlation between perceived health status and reported impairments.

P303 Determining the threshold for moderate-to-severe disability in inflammatory bowel disease using IBD-Disk

Abstract Background The IBD-Disk is a validated 10-question visual scale, which has been shown to measure functional disability associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim of this study is to assess the correlation between the IBD-Disk, the daily-life burden associated with IBD, and disease activity. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study over 6 months between April and September 2023. IBD patients responded to the IBD-Disk and 2 visual analog scales (VAS): 1) Daily-life IBD burden (scored from 0 to 10, score &amp;gt; 5 indicates high burden) 2) Overall perceived health status (0=poor, 10=good). Means were compared using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. The correlation of the overall IBD-Disk with daily-life IBD burden and overall health was analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. The diagnostic performance of IBD-Disk in detecting severe disability was studied using the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Results We included 142 patients, 55.6% male and 72.5% with Crohn's disease. The median age of the series was 38 years [30 - 48]. The mean IBD-Disk total score was 35.7 ± 21.6. Energy, Emotion, and Sleep obtained the highest scores. Mean values for daily-life burden and self-rated overall health status were 4.9 ± 3.1 and 5.9 ± 2.6 respectively. There was a significant difference in means between the overall IBD-Disk score, IBD daily-life burden and overall health status between patients in clinical remission and patients with active disease (Table 1). We observed 43.7% patients (n=62) with a high daily-life burden. The correlation between the overall IBD-Disk score and the VAS of daily-life burden was r=0.787 (p&amp;lt;0.001) and was inversely related to the VAS of overall health status with a coefficient r=-0.632 (p&amp;lt;0.001). At an optimal overall IBD-Disk score cut-off equal to 38/100, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for high IBD daily-life burden [VAS&amp;gt;5] was 0.907 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.858-0.955; p&amp;lt;0.001) (Figure 1) Conclusion Our work has demonstrated excellent item homogeneity in the classical Arabic version of the IBD-Disk, and a good correlation between each item and the remaining total score. However, a prospective measurement of the intra-class correlation coefficient of the classical Arabic version will be necessary to assess its reproducibility over time.

The Association between Perceived Stress, Quality of Life, and Level of Physical Activity in Public School Teachers.

Chronic high stress levels related to work impact the quality of life (QoL). Although physical activity improves QoL, it is not clear whether this life study habit could attenuate possible relationships between QoL and stress in public school teachers. The sample for this study was made up of 231 teachers from public schools. QoL was assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey and physical activity via Baecke's questionnaire. A Likert scale assessed stress level perception. Poisson Regression analyzed the association between stress level and QoL domains adjusted for sex, age, and socioeconomic conditions (model 1). In model 2, physical activity level was inserted in addition to model 1. Seven out of eight domains of QoL, except the domain of pain, were associated with high levels of stress (all p < 0.05-model 1). However, in model 2, the associations of the high levels of stress with general health status (p = 0.052) and functional capacity (p = 0.081) domains of QoL were mitigated. Our results indicated that physical activity mitigated the relationship between higher levels of stress and lower perception of general health status and functional capacity domains in secondary public school teachers.

Psychological Distress and Food Insecurity among International Students at a Hungarian University: A Post-Pandemic Survey.

The aim of the present study was two-fold: Firstly, to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress among international students at a Hungarian university two years after the COVID-19 outbreak; and secondly, to identify its demographic and socioeconomic factors, with special regard to the students' food-security status. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was carried out from 27 March to 3 July 2022 among international students at the University of Debrecen. The questionnaire included information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, food-security status (six-item United States Department of Agriculture Food Security Survey Module (USDA-FSSM)), and psychological distress (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)). Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the potential associations between demographic/socioeconomic factors and psychological distress. Additionally, multiple logistic regression was employed to further analyze these associations. Of 398 participants, 42.2%, 48.7%, and 29.4% reported mild to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The ages 18-24 (AOR = 2.619; 95% CI: 1.206-5.689) and 25-29 (AOR = 2.663; 95% CI: 1.159-6.119), reporting a low perception of health status (AOR = 1.726; 95% CI: 1.081-2.755), and being food insecure (AOR = 1.984; 95% CI: 1.274-3.090) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Being female (AOR = 1.674; 95% CI: 1.090-2.571), reporting a low perception of health status (AOR = 1.736; 95% CI: 1.098-2.744), and being food insecure (AOR = 2.047; 95% CI: 1.327-3.157) were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, being female (AOR = 1.702; 95% CI: 1.026-2.824)), living with roommates (AOR = 1.977; 95% CI: 1.075-3.635), reporting a low perception of health status (AOR = 2.840; 95% CI: 1.678-4.807), and being food insecure (AOR = 2.295; 95% CI:1.398-3.767) were significantly associated with symptoms of stress. Psychosocial programs combined with strategies to alleviate food insecurity are required to enhance international students' mental health and well-being.

Effectiveness of information and communication technology-based integrated care for older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is a key factor in advancing the implementation of integrated care for older adults in the context of an aging society and the normalization of epidemics. This systematic review aims to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of ICT-based integrated care for older adults to provide input for the construction of intelligent integrated care models suitable for the context of an aging population in China. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, MEDLINE, EBSCO, EMBASE, CINAHL with full text, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library databases, along with the Google Scholar search engine, for papers published between January 1, 2000, and July 25, 2022, to include randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies of ICT-based integrated care for older adults. Two reviewers independently performed literature screening, quality assessment (JBI standardized critical appraisal tool), and data extraction. The results were pooled using a random effects model, and narrative synthesis was used for studies with insufficient outcome data. We included 32 studies (21 interventions) with a total of 30,200 participants (14,289 in the control group and 15,911 in the intervention group). However, the quality of the literature could be improved. The meta-analysis results showed that ICT-based integrated care significantly improved the overall perceived health status of older adults (n=3 studies, MD 1.29 (CI 0.11 to 2.46), no heterogeneity) and reduced the number of emergency department visits (n=11 studies, OR 0.46 (CI 0.25 to 0.86), high heterogeneity) but had no significant effect on improving quality of life, mobility, depression, hospital admissions and readmissions, or mortality in older adults, with a high degree of study heterogeneity. Narrative analysis showed that the overall quality of care, primary care service use, and functional status of older adults in the intervention group improved, but the cost-effectiveness was unclear. ICT-based integrated care is effective in improving health outcomes for older adults, but the quality and homogeneity of the evidence base need to be improved. Researchers should develop intelligent integrated care programs in the context of local health and care welfare provision systems for older adults, along with the preferences and priorities of the older adults.

Consideration points in the decision making in chronic respiratory diseases.

Objective: Even though dynamic multidisciplinary team discussions are crucial for end-of-life care management and decisions concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the details of the discussion contents remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify essential considerations in decision-making for patients with chronic respiratory diseases to enhance a consensus-based approach. Materials and Methods: A qualitative content analysis of focus group conversations on published clinical case reports in the Japanese community about end-of-life care for patients with chronic respiratory disorders was conducted. The cases were searched through Igaku Chuo Zasshi (ICHUSHI) and Google in February 2021, using the keywords: "COPD", "chronic respiratory diseases", and "end-of-life care". A total of 41 healthcare professionals participated in the focus group discussions. Results: Four major themes evolved from the qualitative content analysis: unpredictable disease prognosis and stages, low awareness of patients on disease severity, acute exacerbations, and home oxygen therapy (HOT). The participants perceived that assessment of severity and prognosis in chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD was a core discussion point to enhance patients' decision-making. The study's findings also indicated that healthcare providers evaluate the influence of acute aggravation of the condition on patients' perceived health status and decision-making. Conclusion: The study reaffirms the significance of informed consent in patients with chronic respiratory disease. It details how, after a thorough assessment of disease severity, patients are given personalized explanations of standardized HOT. This approach ensures they fully understand the unpredictable nature and various stages of their condition resulting from acute exacerbations.

Influences of Organizational Culture, Nursing Workplace Spirituality, and Nurses’ Perceived Health Status on Quality of Nursing Work Life according to Nursing Clinical Ladder

Influences of Organizational Culture, Nursing Workplace Spirituality, and Nurses’ Perceived Health Status on Quality of Nursing Work Life according to Nursing Clinical Ladder

Health literacy in older adults receiving hemodialysis in Turkey: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to determine the health literacy level and related factors of older adults receiving hemodialysis treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the five dialysis centers, using the information form and Turkish Health Literacy Survey-32 (THLS-32). A total of 336 older adults receiving hemodialysis treatment participated. The general health literacy score was found to be 25.69 ± 14.47. Based on the health literacy assessment scores, 62.5% of the participants were in the category of inadequate and limited level of health literacy. The lower level of education, perceived health status, income, and getting help in reading and writing were statistically significant predictors of the health literacy score. The health literacy of older adults receiving hemodialysis treatment was inadequate and limited. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of integrating health literacy assessment in clinical care settings and supporting the health literacy of older adults receiving hemodialysis treatment.

Effect of a Legal Clinic Program Within an Urban Primary Health Care Center on Social Determinants of Health: A Program Evaluation.

Individuals living in poverty often visit primary healthcare clinics for health problems stemming from unmet legal needs. We examined the impact of a medical-legal partnership on improving the social determinants of health (SDoH), health-related quality of life, and perceived health status of attendees of a Legal Clinic Program (LCP). This was a pre-post program evaluation of a weekly LCP established within an urban primary healthcare clinic to provide free legal consultation. Patients aged 18 years or older were either approached or referred to complete a screening tool to identify potential legal needs. Those identified with potential legal needs were offered an appointment with LCP lawyers who provided legal counsel, referrals, and services. For those who attended the LCP, changes in SDoH and health indicators were collected via a self-reported survey 6 months after they attended the LCP and compared to their baseline scores using paired t-tests, McNemar's test for paired proportions, and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for related samples. During the 6-month evaluation period, 31 participants attended the LCP and completed both the baseline and 6-month surveys; 67.8% were female, 64.5% were white, 90.3% were not working full-time, and 61.3% had a household income of $700 to 1800 per month. At follow-up, 25.8% were receiving at least 1 new benefit and there was a statistically significant reduction in food insecurity (35.5% vs 9.7%, P < .05). Also, perceived health status using the visual analog scale (ranges from 0 to 100) significantly improved from 42.5 points (SD = 25.3) at baseline to 56.6 points (SD = 19.6) after 6 months (P < .05). The LCP has the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of patients in primary healthcare clinics by addressing unmet legal needs and SDoH.

Effect of environmental exposure on the perceived health status of individuals from five Latin American countries

Effect of environmental exposure on the perceived health status of individuals from five Latin American countries

High prevalence of burnout among midwives in Hungary: High job demands and low resources as potential persistent stressors, a focus on prevention

BackgroundMidwifery practice in Hungary is characterized by chronic stress, which may in turn lead to burnout and impaired perinatal care. However, little is known about the degree and potential stressors of burnout, which hinder the development of strategies to promote well-being among midwives in Hungary. AimTo assess the prevalence of burnout and identify persistent individual and occupational stressors among midwives in Hungary over the past decade to inform prevention. MethodsWe conducted two cross-sectional studies among midwives in 2014 and 2022. We used the Maslach Burnout Inventory to assess burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) over time. We also collected data on individual and work characteristics. We performed a multivariate regression analysis to explore associations between burnout and respondents' characteristics. FindingsThe degree and prevalence of emotional exhaustion among midwives increased significantly between 2014 (N = 224) and 2022 (N = 152). High workload, not feeling valued at work, poorly perceived health status and work dissatisfaction emerged as a significant positive correlate of emotional exhaustion or depersonalization in both studies. Living alone showed both a positive and inverse association with burnout in 2014 and 2022, respectively. Work satisfaction was a positive correlate of personal accomplishment in both studies. ConclusionsOur results add to and confirm the growing body of evidence about the high prevalence of burnout among midwives in Hungary. We identified potential risk factors and outcomes of burnout, which remained unchanged over time. To prevent or reduce burnout among midwives, future interventions should focus on addressing these potential persistent risk factors. However, the time-varying role of factors influencing burnout makes it advisable to review preventive interventions from time to time.

Factors influencing health-related quality of life in older adult women with sarcopenia: analysis of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019.

This study aimed to identify factors influencing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older adult women with sarcopenia. The study was secondary data analysis using data from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The final sample consisted of 142 women aged 60 years and older with sarcopenia and were selected from 8,110 women. The participants was analyzed using complex descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and regression. In terms of HRQoL, three general characteristics were found to be influential, with an explanatory power of 56.0%: difficulty climbing stairs, difficulty working, and perceived health status. Having no or mild difficulty when climbing stairs (B=.20, p=.001; B=.21, p<.001) and no or mild difficulty when working (B=.25, p=. 002; B=.208, p=.013) had a significant effect on HRQoL compared to severe difficulty. Having good or ordinary perceived health status had a significant effect on the HRQoL (B=.11, p<.001; B=.09, p<.001). Based on study findings that the HRQoL of older adult women with sarcopenia were influenced by difficulty climbing stairs and working, as well as good perceived health status, healthcare providers should assist elderly women to maintain physical activities in their daily lives.

A Study on the Characteristics of Health Functional Food Use, Perceived Health Status, Health Interest, and Health Promotion Attitude among College Students

A Study on the Characteristics of Health Functional Food Use, Perceived Health Status, Health Interest, and Health Promotion Attitude among College Students

APPLICABLE TO FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS DETECTION OF ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS ABOUT TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE (T&amp;CM)

Aim: This study aims to determine the attitudes and behaviours of individuals aged 18 and over referred to family health centres in Ankara regarding traditional and complementary medicine practices. &#x0D; Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 443 people aged 18 and over referred to family health centres in Ankara and agreed to participate in the study. The data source used was the questionnaire forms the research team developed. The questionnaire form was applied face to face. &#x0D; Results: All participants stated having heard about T&amp;CM applications. A statistically significant difference was found between the status of getting information about T&amp;CM applications regarding age and marital status. A statistically significant difference was found between the status of getting information about T&amp;CM applications regarding age and marital status, presence of chronic disease and regular drug use. The frequency of getting information about T&amp;CM applications increases 1.9 times by the presence of chronic disease and 2.7 times by good/excellent perceived health status. The frequency of using T&amp;CM applications at least once in their life is 40.2%. &#x0D; Conclusion: The usage frequency of T&amp;CM has recently increased to a great extent in our country and in the world. Hence, determining the attitudes and behaviours of individuals regarding traditional and complementary medicine practices in the case of increasing frequency of use is essential in creating scientific evidence for the studies to be carried out in this field.

Understanding Energy Poverty among the Elderly: Insights from a Household Survey in Greece

Understanding the determinants of energy poverty among the elderly is crucial for shaping energy policies with significant economic and social implications. This research provides valuable insights into the factors influencing energy poverty among the elderly in Greece. To achieve the study’s objectives, household survey data from 3651 elderly individuals for the year 2022 were utilized. The empirical findings, based on statistical and econometric analysis, affirm the influence of socioeconomic factors on the ability of the elderly to meet their energy needs and address energy poverty challenges. The analysis suggests that both household size and work-related pensions positively impact their ability to address their heating requirements. Elderly individuals with a higher level of education are less likely to experience energy poverty. Additionally, it is found that as perceived health status declines, elderly individuals are more likely to encounter difficulties in covering utility payments. These results underscore the importance of tailoring strategies to promote the adoption of energy poverty measures that cater to diverse demographic and income groups. This information is vital for ensuring that the elderly can afford to maintain a comfortable living environment without sacrificing other essential needs.