The Association between the Self-Management of Mild Symptoms and Quality of Life of Elderly Populations in Rural Communities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ryuichi Ohta, Mikiya Sato, Jun Kitayuguchi, Tetsuhiro Maeno and Chiaki Sano
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Ryuichi Ohta: Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan, 96-1 Iida, Daito-cho, Unnan 699-1221, Japan
Mikiya Sato: Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
Jun Kitayuguchi: Physical Education and Medicine Research Center Unnan, Unnan 699-1105, Japan
Tetsuhiro Maeno: Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
Chiaki Sano: Department of Community Medicine Management, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya cho, Izumo 693-8501, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-10

Abstract: Maintaining people’s health based on their help-seeking behavior (HSB) regarding mild symptoms is essential. An effective HSB, especially self-management, can facilitate the attainment of appropriate healthcare resources and affect health outcomes such as quality of life (QOL). However, clear evidence regarding the relationship between self-management, mild symptoms, and QOL is unavailable. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated this association in a rural elderly population. The participants, aged over 65 years, were living in rural communities. The primary outcome of QOL was examined using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L). After adjusting for propensity score matching, 298 participants in the self-management usage group were matched with 298 in the group not using self-management. The most frequent HSB trend was consulting with primary care physicians, followed by self-care, consulting with families, utilizing home medicines, and buying medicines. The EQ-5D-5L scores were statistically higher in the self-management usage group than in the other group. The HSBs with a trend of using self-management were related to a high QOL. Self-management of symptoms along with other HSBs can improve elderly HSBs in rural contexts. Educational interventions and system development for HSBs in rural contexts could be effective in enhancing the QOL of rural elderly populations.

Keywords: help-seeking behavior; self-management; self-care; quality of life; rural community; EQ-5D-5L; Japan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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