Premium
Fear of intimacy with helping professionals and its impact on elderly C hinese
Author(s) -
Lau Ying,
Chow Aloysius,
Chan Sally,
Wang Wenru
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12121
Subject(s) - medicine , marital status , health professionals , health care , comorbidity , agency (philosophy) , gerontology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , population , philosophy , environmental health , epistemology , economics , economic growth
Aim The present study aimed to investigate the attitudes of C hinese older adults toward seeking help from healthcare professionals, and its impact on their self‐care ability and medication adherence. Methods A cross‐sectional study using a questionnaire survey was carried out. A convenience sample of 301 older adults was recruited from six health centers in M acao, P eople's R epublic of C hina. The C hinese versions of F ear of Intimacy with H elping P rofessionals ( C ‐ FIHP ), Exercise of S elf‐care A gency ( C ‐ ESCA ) and M orisky 4‐ I tem S elf‐ R eport M easure of M edication‐ T aking B ehavior ( C ‐ MMAS ) were used to measure the study variables. Results C hinese older adults who were married and had comorbidity with arthritis showed significantly negative attitudes toward seeking help form healthcare professional than those who were not married ( P < 0.05) and did not have arthritis ( P < 0.01). There are significant negative correlations between C ‐ FIHP with C ‐ ESCA ( P < 0.01) and C ‐ MMAS ‐4 ( P < 0.01). Regression analysis identified three predicative factors of fear of intimacy with helping professionals: marital status, comorbidity with arthritis and self‐care agency, which accounted for 23.9% of variance. Conclusions The present study suggests that C hinese older adults' fear of intimacy with helping professionals impacts their perceived self‐care ability and medication adherence. The three predictive factors identified in the present study might provide useful pointers for healthcare professionals to customize an effective approach to encourage and engage older adults. This might improve the self‐care ability and medication adherence of older adults, which will result in a better quality of life and psychosocial well‐being. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 474–480.