THE ROLE OF SPIRITUALITY IN THE SELF-MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Many older adults perceive spirituality as an important resource in their lives and spiritual practices as crucial to their health and well-being. Unfortunately, there is limited knowledge of how spirituality is defined by African American and Caucasian American men and women aged 65 years and older. In addition, less understanding on the role spirituality played in the self-management of chronic illness among this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to define, explore, and describe spirituality in the life of chronically ill elders and to examine its relationship to self-management of chronic illness in terms of gender and race.The grounded theory approach guided the study design and analysis. This study used both comparative method and thematic content analysis in a sample of eighty-eight older adults in the �Self-Care Study,� a NIA-funded study on the process of self-care among older adults. The analytic technique of comparative method defined spirituality while thematic content analysis identified patterns of spirituality and self-management. Each in-depth interview was audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Results identified three types of spirituality: transpersonal transcendence, interpersonal transcendence, and intrapersonal transcendence. In describing the spiritual/self-management connection nine themes emerged: 1) God: the healer, 2) God: the enabler through doctors, 3) faith in God, 4) prayer as a mediator, 5) spirituality as a coping mechanism, 6) combining traditional medicine and spiritual practices, 7) selected spiritual practices of self-care, 8) empowering respondents to practice health-promoting activities, and 9) personal responsibilities in the self-management of illness.These findings suggest a new direction for public health practice, education, and research. Spirituality is a pervasive factor in this population and may help to ensure positive health-promoting behaviors. The public health significance of this study is great because it is important for public health educators to understand the role spirituality plays in the self-management of chronic illness among the elderly. The implications for public health educators and researchers are the possible collaboration with faith-based institutions to assess, plan, develop, and evaluate interventions within the context of older adults

Prevalence and predictors of receipt of weight loss advice among a nationally representative sample of overweight and obese Kenyans

Background: As Kenya continues to experience rapid development and urbanization, growing evidence shows an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and overweight and obese citizens. Objectives: This study sought to explore the extent to which Kenyan overweight and obese participants reported receiving advice from physicians or health care providers to lose weight and to identify demographic characteristics associated with receipt of weight loss advice. Methods: Descriptive statistics analyzed sociodemographic characteristics and weight loss advice from the 2015 Kenya WHO STEPwise survey (n = 1335). A bivariate logistic regression model estimated the association between socio-demographic characteristics and weight loss advice reported from a physician or health care provider. Results: The prevalence of weight loss advice from health professionals among overweight and obese participants was 19%. Model results indicated that obese individuals [odds ratio (OR) = 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.36, 3.26)], individuals with higher than a secondary education [OR = 2.26, 95% CI (1.39, 3.68)], urban dwellers [OR = 2.38, 95% CI (1.29, 4.39)], and women [OR = 3.13, 95% CI (1.60, 6.12)] were significantly more likely to receive weight loss advice from their physician or health care provider. Conclusion: This study found low levels of report of physician or health care provider advice for weight loss among overweight individuals. Advice was primarily reported by obese patients. Weight loss advice differed significantly based on educational attainment, geographical location, and gender thus calling for targeted interventions to increase equitable NCD prevention services from physicians

Understanding preventive behaviors among mid-Western African-American men: a pilot qualitative study of prostate screening

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jomh.2011.03.00

Prevalence of dental caries, patterns of oral hygiene behaviors, and daily habits in rural central India: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Dental caries is seen across all age groups and in all populations. Several sociobehavioral factors existing in a broader cultural and environmental context can affect caries prevalence. Aims: To determine the prevalence and severity of caries across gender, age, and educational levels and to study the association between oral hygiene behaviors, daily habits, and caries. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study recruited participants ≥18 years from Ramgarh, Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, India. Information was collected on demographics, oral hygiene behaviors, and daily habits. Overall caries experience was quantified using decayed, missing, filled tooth index through intraoral examinations. Results: Use of toothbrushes, (P < 0.001) toothpastes (P < 0.001), and fluoridated toothpastes (P = 0.01) was significantly higher in younger participants aged 18–34 years than in older adults. Brushing twice daily (P = 0.05), use of toothbrushes (P < 0.001), toothpaste (P < 0.001), and fluoridated toothpaste (P < 0.001) was significantly higher among participants with ≥8 years education than participants with no formal education or ≤8 years of education. Use of tobacco was significantly more common among people with no education, people with ≤8 years of education (P = 0.02), and males (P < 0.001). Participants ≥45 years had 3.2 times higher odds of having decayed, missing, filled teeth scores ≥1 than the younger age groups. Conclusions: Poor oral hygiene behaviors among older adults, males, and participants with ≤8 years of education were associated with higher caries experience and missing teeth as a result of caries