Factors associated with self-rated health in a Norwegian population of older people participating in a preventive home visit program: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Assessing self-rated health by preventive home visits of older people can provide information about the person’s well-being, quality of life and risk of developing illness. The aim of this study was to examine associations between self-rated health and factors related to demographics, lifestyle, health conditions and medical diagnoses by older people participating in a preventive home visit program. Methods A cross-sectional study including 233 participants (age 75–79) from three municipalities of Western Norway was conducted. Data were collected through preventive home visits performed by six nurses, using a questionnaire including self-rated health assessment and questions and tests related to demographics (e.g. education and housing), lifestyle (e.g. social activities, alcohol and smoking), health conditions (e.g. sensory impairment, pain and limited by disease) and medical diagnoses. Descriptive and inferential statistics including linear block-wise regression model were applied. Results The block-wise regression model showed that the variables Limited by disease and Pain were negatively associated with self-rated health and Use internet was positively associated. The model had a R 2 0.432. The variable that contributed to largest change in the model was Limited by disease (R 2 Change; 0.297, p -value< 0.001). Conclusions In the present study, being limited by disease and pain were strongly associated with poor self-rated health, indicating that these are important factors to assess during a preventive home visit. Also, digital competence (Use internet) was associated with a better self-rated health, suggesting that it could be useful to ask, inform and motivate for the use of digital tools that may compensate for or improve social support, social contact and access to health -related information.

Have changes in Internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic affected older adults’ self-rated health? A cross-sectional study of young-old and old-old populations in Korea

“… 11 Recent studies have demonstrated the association between Internet usage and better self-rated health in older adults. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 Further, Fjell et al 14 suggested that Internet usage can enhance older adults’ self-rated health by improving social support, social contact, and access to health information. However, some studies reported no significant association between Internet usage and self-rated health 16 or negative associations.…”

Factors associated with self-rated health in primary care in the South-Western health zone of Malawi

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on self-rated health in the south-western health zone of Malawi. Although the prevalence of poor SRH is lower than those of other Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries with higher per capita expenditure on health, and comparable to findings from high-income settings it ought to be considered as suboptimal and a cause for concern [ 12 – 14 , 22 , 23 , 27 ]. The latter is due to Malawi’s good SRH prevalence that is below the continental mean [ 21 ] .…”

Factors associated with poor self-rated health in primary care in Malawi

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the rst study on self-rated health in the south-western health zone of Malawi. Although the prevalence of poor SRH is lower than some gures from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and comparable to ndings from high-income settings it ought to be considered as suboptimal and a cause for concern (12,14,(24)(25)(26). The latter is due to Malawi's resource constraints, growing double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, increasing life expectancy, and declining mortality from conditions that once carried high mortality (27,28).…”