This study provides epidemiological data of chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults. Reported differences contribute to highlight the relevance of considering a gender perspective in chronic musculoskeletal pain research. Cross-national comparison also offers a map of differences that improves the knowledge of this chronic condition in Europe.

No abstract

This study aimed to analyze the determinants of quality of life (QoL) in older people in three European countries (Portugal, Spain and Sweden). A sample of 7589 participants in waves 4 (2011) and 6 (2015) of the Survey on Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) project, aged 50 and over and living in Portugal, Spain and Sweden, was included. The CASP-12 scale was used to measure QoL. A principal component analysis was performed to group preselected variables related to active and healthy ageing into the dimensions of health, social participation, and lifelong learning. A linear regression model was built using the change in CASP-12 scores over the 4-year follow-up as the dependent variable, including the interactions between country and each independent variable in the model. After four years, the average QoL increased in Portugal (difference = 0.8, p < 0.001), decreased in Spain (−0.8, p < 0.001), and remained constant in Sweden (0.1, p = 0.408). A significant country-participation component interaction (p = 0.039) was found. In Spain, a higher participation (β = 0.031, p = 0.002) was related to a higher QoL improvement at 4 years, but not in Sweden or Portugal. Physical health and emotional components (β = 0.099, p < 0.001), functional ability (β = 0.044, p = 0.023), and cognitive and sensory ability (β = 0.021, p = 0.026) were associated with QoL changes over time in all countries. The country-specific associations between health, social participation and QoL should be taken into account when developing public health policies to promote QoL among European older people.

El uso y acceso a las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) se han convertido en un motor del día a día de toda la población. De hecho, en el actual contexto sociosanitario, determinadas actividades en línea han cobrado especial importancia, como las videollamadas, las compras online o la asistencia sanitaria en línea. El objetivo de este trabajo se centra en conocer el uso y la opinión de este tipo de herramientas de ‘telesalud' y 'teknokuidado’ por parte de la población mayor de 65 años, e indagar en esta brecha generacional desde una perspectiva de género. El método central será la explotación del cuestionario del Observatorio Nacional de las Telecomunicaciones y de la Sociedad de la Información (ONTSI) Los ciudadanos ante la e-sanidad, 2016, sumado a las referencias actuales. Se constata cierta desconfianza en el uso de internet en materia de ‘e-salud’, lo que deriva en una escasa implementación de tecnologías de monitorización y telecuidado. Si bien éstas cuentan con valoraciones muy positivas, el nivel de uso es limitado. Destaca un perfil de usuario mayoritariamente hombre de entre 65 y 80 años, con estudios superiores, residente en grandes ciudades, conviviente con hijos/as y/o pareja y una percepción optimista de su estado de salud. Como conclusión cabe indicar que existe una evidente reducción de la brecha digital en las personas mayores. Además, en el caso de las mujeres, especialmente las octogenarias, se observa que siguen estando invisibilizadas e infrarrepresentadas también en cuanto al uso y opinión de estas TIC, en coherencia con su menor presencia social y digital confirmada en las últimas investigaciones.

This paper investigates positive perceptions of ageing in rural people aged 65 and over as a key predictor of the self-assessment of one’s health. Method: The sample covers a total of 3389 people from the ‘Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement’ (SHARE), wave 6 (W6, 2015). This research analyses men and women who live in a rural environment. A linear regression model is proposed to consider the dependent variable ‘self-rated health’ and independent variables based on measures of quality of life in older adults. This study confirms that rural women perceive their health on the basis of factors different to those of their male contemporaries. The variable ‘How often do you feel/think that you can do the things that you want to do?’ is associated with women’s self-perceived health. In men, a high relationship (with p < 0.001) is obtained for the variables ‘How often do you feel/think look back on your life with a sense of happiness?’ and ‘How often do you feel/think that family responsibilities prevent you from doing what you want to do?’ Certain daily activities (e.g., leisure or care), along with a positive perception of life, influence one’s perceptions of one’s own health, especially in the case of women. In sum, rural older women make a positive evaluation of their own health and ageing, while rural older men relate self-rated health to passivity and reminiscing. There is a need for further research on psycho-social and socio-spatial issues from an intergenerational, technological and gender perspective for rural and territorial influences to attain better health and quality of life for rural older people in comparison to urban people.