Associations between Perception of Help-Seeking Behaviors and Quality of Life among Older People in Rural Communities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ryuichi Ohta () and Chiaki Sano
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Ryuichi Ohta: Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, 96-1 Iida, Daito-Cho, Unnan 699-1221, Japan
Chiaki Sano: Department of Community Medicine Management, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya Cho, Izumo 693-8501, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-10

Abstract: Older people’s help-seeking behaviors (HSBs) may be limited because of various factors and are essential in improving healthcare in aging societies. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between perception of HSBs, concrete HSBs, quality of life (QOL), and other variables among people over 65 in rural Japan using standardized questionnaires. Participants were divided into high or low health status index score groups based on a median split. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between perception of HSBs and high QOL while controlling for age, sex, living conditions, annual health checks, having chronic diseases, regular clinic visits, smoking, habitual alcohol consumption, education, living conditions, social support, social capital, socioeconomic status (SES), and health literacy. Participants in the high QOL group were younger ( p < 0.001), and had fewer chronic diseases and regular clinic visits than those in the low QOL group ( p < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression model revealed that age, chronic diseases, tobacco usage, family consultation, and consulting primary care physicians negatively predicted QOL. High SES, social capital and support, and HSB intention positively predicted QOL. Self-efficacy and intention regarding HSBs should be investigated to improve health among older rural people.

Keywords: help-seeking behaviors; quality of life; rural community; EQ-5D-5L; Japan; older people (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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