Objective In the context of an increased focus on geriatric depression in recent years, this study examined the associations between different types of self-care disability, the number of self-care disabilities, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people. Method The data for this study were extracted from the follow-up survey (conducted in 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The sample comprised 10808 participants aged 45 years and older. The Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD-10) Scale were used to assess self-care disability and depressive symptoms, respectively. Result The prevalence of depressive symptoms and self-care disability among the surveyed residents was 45.1% and 23.4%, respectively. Overall, there was a significant positive association between self-care disability and depressive symptoms. Participants who reported having a self-care disability in relation dressing, bathing, transferring in and out of bed, using the toilet, and controlling urination and defecation were found to have a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms. In addition, participants with a greater cumulative quantity of self-care disabilities had a higher risk of depressive symptoms, and higher CESD-10 scores. Conclusion Self-care disability is a risk factor for depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people. A positive correlation between the number of self-care disabilities and the risk of depressive symptoms was found.
Background At present, improving the accessibility to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health resources is an important component of China’s health policy. This study evaluated the trends in the disparities and equity of TCM health resource allocation from 2010 to 2020 to inform optimal future local health planning and policy. Method The data for this study were extracted from the China Health Statistical Yearbook (2011–2021) and China Urban Statistical Yearbook (2020). The equity and rationality of the allocation of TCM health resources at the national and provincial levels were evaluated using the Gini coefficient and the health resource aggregation degree, respectively. Result The number of TCM-related institutions, beds, health staff, outpatients and admissions increased by 1.97, 2.61, 2.35, 1.72 and 2.41 times, respectively, between 2010 and 2020. The population-based Gini coefficients for health staff, beds and institutions were 0.12, 0.23 and 0.13, respectively, indicating acceptable equity, while the geographical area-based Gini index for health staff, beds and institutions were 0.65, 0.62 and 0.62, respectively, indicating serious inequity. The agglomeration degree as a function of geographical area was as follows: eastern region > central region > western region. Moreover, the institutional and health staff gaps between the geographical areas increased from 2012 to 2020. In addition, there was a relatively balanced agglomeration degree based on the population in these three regions and an increasingly equitable allocation of institutions and health staff. Conclusion In recent years, China’s TCM health resources and services have increased rapidly, but their proportions within the overall health system remain low. The equity and rationality of TCM health allocated by the population was better than that by the geographic area. Regional differences and inequalities, especially for institutions, still exist. A series of policies to promote the balanced development of TCM need to be implemented.
The study aimed to evaluate the change in accessibility of essential anticancer medicines, from 2015 to 2018 in a pilot province for health care reform in China. Data on access to 23 essential anticancer medicines was obtained from 6 provincial tertiary hospitals. A comprehensive analysis was applied to explore these trends. The total utilization of anticancer medicines had increased by an average of 2.57 times ( P < .001) during the study period, of which targeted anticancer medicines had the fastest growth rate of 6.45 times ( P < .001). The prices of all targeted medicines and original brands (OBs) were showing a downward trend, with the average change rate of −32% and −28% respectively (both P < .001). In contrast, the price of non-targeted medicines and lowest-price generics (LPG) increased by an average of 98% ( P < .001) and 117% ( P < .004) respectively. All targeted anticancer medicines were found to be unaffordable under this standard of this study, but the affordability of these medicines is on the rise. The study suggested positive changes in the utilization, price, and affordability of the most essential anticancer medicines. In the future, comprehensive strategies need to be conducted to further increase the affordability of targeted anticancer medicines.
Introduction: Over-prescription of antimicrobials for patients is a major driver of bacterial resistance. The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and prescription in relation to antimicrobials among physicians in the Zhejiang province in China, and identify the determining factors. Methods: A total of 600 physicians in public county hospitals and township health institutions were surveyed cross-sectionally using a structured electronic questionnaire. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 580 physicians and accordingly, the response rate was 96.67%. The mean score of 11 terms related to antimicrobial knowledge was 6.81, and that an average of 32.1% of patients with upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) would be prescribed antimicrobials. Multivariate analysis indicated that young general practitioners with less training are more likely to contribute to high antimicrobial prescriptions (P<0.05). Older physicians with more trainings are more willing to provide patients with the correct knowledge regarding antimicrobials and less likely to prescribe antimicrobial s to URIs. The results of the correlation analysis showed that a positive connection was found between the doctor’s knowledge, attitude and prescription practice (P<0.05). Conclusion: Proper prescription of antimicrobials depends on adequate knowledge and regular training programs for physicians.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.