Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Over the past few decades, significant demographic and epidemiological changes
have been occurred and led to serious changes in the health-care needs of the elderly. Integrated
care has been emerged as a strategy to provide better care for the elderly in the community. The aim
of this study was conducted to evaluate components of integrated health-care program of the elderly.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran
(Iran) in 2019. For the purpose of the study, a two-stage cluster sampling method was employed.
In the firs stage, primary health-care centers were selected, then in the second stage, a systematic
random sampling was conducted based on the number of the elderly covered by each center. level
of frailty, medication use awareness, and self-care ability were evaluated by the elderly self-report
questionnaire. The questionnaire was piloted with thirty respondents. The test–retest reliability score
for the questionnaire was r = 0.795, P < 0.001. Data analysis of the questionnaire was conducted
using generalized estimating equation model by SPSS software Version 22. Statistical significance
for all analyses was set at P < 0.05.
RESULTS: Findings of the components showed that the mean ± standard deviation of frailty (80 ± 17)
and self‑care ability (87 ± 17) were higher than the mean of medication use awareness (49 ± 19).
Frailty and self‑care ability (β = frailty, self‑care) of the elderly had a positive statistical significance
with the ones with good financial status (β = 5, 10) and without chronic disease (β = 4, 5). Medication
use awareness had a negative statistical significance with illiteracy (β = −9.5).
CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the medication use awareness of the elderly should be prioritized
by improving integrated health‑care program.

Keywords

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