Characteristics of Community-Dwelling Older People Who Are Less Likely to Respond to Mail Surveys Under Infection Countermeasures for New Strains of Coronavirus: The Takasaki Study

Akihiko Murayama (), Daisuke Higuchi, Kosuke Saida, Shigeya Tanaka and Tomoyuki Shinohara
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Akihiko Murayama: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Gunma University of Health and Welfare, Maebashi Plaza Genki 21 6-7F, 2-12-1 Hon-machi, Maebashi-shi 371-0023, Gunma, Japan
Daisuke Higuchi: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Care, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, 27 Naka Orui-machi, Takasaki-shi 370-0033, Gunma, Japan
Kosuke Saida: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Care, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, 27 Naka Orui-machi, Takasaki-shi 370-0033, Gunma, Japan
Shigeya Tanaka: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Care, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, 27 Naka Orui-machi, Takasaki-shi 370-0033, Gunma, Japan
Tomoyuki Shinohara: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Care, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, 27 Naka Orui-machi, Takasaki-shi 370-0033, Gunma, Japan

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of community-dwelling older people who are difficult to reach by mail survey in anticipation of a future infectious disease crisis. A baseline survey of 1808 community-dwelling older people was conducted in May 2021, and a follow-up survey of 935 respondents was conducted in May 2023. Factors predictive of responding to the follow-up survey included age at baseline, sex, comorbidities, living with family, long-term care insurance, a history of falls, the Simple Frailty Index, and a Questionnaire on Changes in Lifestyle in the Past Month (QCL). Participants were divided into the responding (n = 330) and non-responding (n = 605) groups. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to analyze items that showed significant differences in the between-group comparison: odds ratios (ORs) of 2.36, 1.84, 1.69, 1.57, and 1.20 for living alone, having comorbidities, having long-term care insurance, fatigue, and reduced ability to communicate, respectively. If social distancing is required in the future, we believe that face-to-face support should be prioritized for people who live alone, have comorbidities, use long-term care insurance, or are aware of fatigue and limited communication, as it is highly unlikely that they will be able to continue exchanging written information.

Keywords: Takasaki study; community-dwelling older people; mail surveys; face-to-face support; community care networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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