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Modelling age-friendly environment for social connectedness: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: Background: The increase in aged populations in Malaysia has brought unprecedented challenges to families, policy makers, scholars, and business organisations. This paper adapted the WHO 2007 framework of features of age-friendly cities to examine age-friendly environment constructs and their linkages with social connectedness from the perspective of Malaysian middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves. Methods: A face-to-face cross-sectional survey was conducted on 402 middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves across selected states in west Malaysia, selected via purposive sampling. Firstly, features of age-friendly cities were explored through exploratory factor analysis involving 82 respondents. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was performed, involving 320 respondents. Results: The results indicated that the constructs of an age-friendly environment were built environment, community support and health services, civic participation, and employment as well as communication and information. The structural model provided evidence that implementing age-friendly initiatives relating to built environment, community support and health services, civic participation and employment as well as communication and information enables the ageing population to improve their connectedness with society. These findings supported the ecological theories, agreeing that age-friendly environments help middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves to increase their adaptability and reduce perceived pressure from the environment. This result was in line with the current literature in which an age-friendly environment is a form of support and an enabling environment to cultivate positive social relationships and connectivity. Conclusions: Creating an age-friendly environment that supports active and healthy living for middle-aged and older adults caring for themselves allows them to continue to share their experiences, knowledge, and wisdom. This is helpful and beneficial for societal well-being and economic development as well as for the future generations.

SUBMITTER: Shi Ying L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8729032 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background: Māori kaumātua (elders) face stark health and social inequities compared to non-Māori New Zealanders. The tuakana-teina (older sibling-younger sibling) peer education programme is a strengths-based approach to enhance well-being and social connectedness. The purpose of this study is to present the baseline data from this programme and identify correlates of well-being outcomes. Method: Participants included 128 kaumātua who completed a self-report survey about health-related quality of life, spirituality, social connection and loneliness, life satisfaction, cultural identity and connection, elder abuse, health service utilisation and demographics. Findings: Multiple regression models illustrated the following correlates of outcomes: (a) self-rated health: needing more help with daily tasks (β = -0.36) and housing problems (β = -0.17); (b) health-related quality of life: needing more help with daily tasks (β = -0.31), housing problems (β = -0.21), and perceived autonomy (β = 0.19); (c) spiritual well-being: understanding of tikanga (cultural protocols) (β = 0.32) and perceived autonomy (β = 0.23); (d) life satisfaction: social support (β = 0.23), sense of purpose (β = 0.23), cultural identity (β = 0.24), trouble paying bills (β = -0.16), and housing problems (β = -0.16); (e) loneliness: elder abuse (β = 0.27), social support (β = -0.21), and missing pleasure of being with whānau (extended family) (β = 0.19). Conclusions: Key correlates for outcomes centred on social support, housing problems, cultural connection and perceived autonomy. These correlates are largely addressed through the programme where tuakana/peer educators provide support and links to social and health services to teina/peer recipients in need. This study illustrates needs and challenges for kaumātua, whilst the larger programme represents a strengths-based and culturally-centred approach to address health issues related to ageing in an Indigenous population.

Project description:BackgroundMedical practices, which are businesses through which one or more physicians treat patients, have likely not yet taken full advantage of the reach of social media. This study analyzed data collected using an anonymous survey to assess the potential utilization of large, established social media platforms in health care. The survey collected data from a diverse population of health care professional students, faculty, and physicians affiliated with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). This study provides significant, actionable data to more efficiently implement a social media strategy focused on age to help developing private practices and outpatient clinics from the perspective of those with experience in the field of medicine.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive study aims to explore the most effective strategies to use social media based on patient age to bring further success to a medical practice.MethodsData were gathered from an anonymous, peer-validated Qualtrics survey created by the corresponding authors based on the recommendations from a panel of experts including executive leadership at TTUHSC. The survey used a variety of question styles to measure differences between social media platforms, including frequency of use, current and future implications in medicine, and comfort in a health care setting. The sample population included students, interns, faculty, and physicians affiliated with the TTUHSC located throughout West Texas.ResultsThe anonymous survey included 673 individuals from several different age groups predetermined at the beginning of the study. There were 154 respondents aged between 18 and 25 years, 171 aged between 26 and 35 years, 133 aged between 36 and 45 years, 104 aged between 46 and 55 years, and 111 aged between 56 and 89 years. The sample population also has a variety of educational achievements. The respondents were grouped based on the highest level of education attained, and this included 23.5% (n=158) of respondents who earned a high school diploma, 42% (n=283) who earned a bachelor's degree, 17.1% (n=115) who earned a master's degree, and 17.4% (n=117) who earned a doctorate degree.ConclusionsAs social media continues to gain momentum, efficient utilization of the available platforms can help medical practices achieve larger patient populations and deliver more personalized care. However, privacy and security concerns should be considered while using social media in health care settings. Although this study demonstrated overwhelming interest in using social media in the medical field across all age groups, adoption willingness appears to be higher in younger respondents than in older respondents. Facebook was the most widely accepted social media platform in health care settings among all age groups. Nonetheless, other social media platforms could potentially be used more effectively depending on the age range of the targeted patient population.

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Modelling age-friendly environment for social connectedness: a cross-sectional study.

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