Educational Intervention to Improve Citizen’s Healthcare Participation Perception in Rural Japanese Communities: A Pilot Study

Ryuichi Ohta, Yoshinori Ryu, Jun Kitayuguchi, Chiaki Sano and Karen D. Könings
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Ryuichi Ohta: Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan 699-1221, Japan
Yoshinori Ryu: Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan 699-1221, Japan
Jun Kitayuguchi: Physical Education and Medicine Research Center Unnan, Unnan 699-1105, Japan
Chiaki Sano: Department of Community Medicine Management, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo 693-8501, Japan
Karen D. Könings: School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: In this mixed-methods study, we hypothesized that social cognitive theory (SCT)-based educational interventions for healthcare participation can improve the self-efficacy of older rural citizens in participating in their health management without any difficulties. Quasi-experimental study before and after SCT-based educational interventions and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants were Japanese elderly (>65 years) from rural communities. Propensity score matching was performed to estimate the effectiveness of educational interventions on participants’ perception (intervention: n = 156; control: n = 121). Interview contents were transcribed verbatim and analyzed based on thematic analysis. The intervention group scored significantly higher than the control group for participation in planning and managing self-care. Interviews revealed three themes: ability to manage health conditions, relationship with medical professionals, and relationship among citizens. Participants reported difficulties in judging symptoms and communicating with medical professionals. Hierarchy and low motivation to participate in healthcare hindered collaboration. The findings suggest that SCT-based educational interventions can positively impact rural citizens’ self-efficacy in healthcare participation.

Keywords: citizen participation; educational workshop; healthcare; older rural citizen; social cognitive theory (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 (12)

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