Aug 2026· Public Health· Vol 259, pp.
106471
· 0 citations· 9 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Improving screening uptake requires a multifaceted approach addressing psychological health, digital-era paradoxes, and structural transportation barriers.
Abstract
Objectives
To identify factors associated with non-participation in health screenings amongst Korean older adults, with a focus on digital engagement, environmental accessibility, and end-of-life values.
STUDY
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Methods
Data from 9136 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years in the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans were analysed using multivariable survey-weighted logistic regression.
Results
Non-participation (20.2%) was associated with older age, male sex, unmarried status, poverty, and urban residence. Smartphone use (OR 1.38), dissatisfaction with public transportation (OR 1.16 per 1-point decrease), and life-sustaining treatment (LST) decline (OR 1.35) were independently associated with non-participation. Depression (OR 1.66) and cognitive impairment (OR 1.71) were the strongest modifiable predictors. Sex- and age-stratified analyses revealed differential patterns.
Conclusions
Improving screening uptake requires a multifaceted approach addressing psychological health, digital-era paradoxes, and structural transportation barriers.
The findings contribute to the identification of groups most vulnerable to low social support and low social participation among older adults with disabilities, and highlights the importance of targeted strategies to promote social inclusion in aging populations.
Érika Giovana Carvalho da Silva, Matheus de Sousa Mata, Damião Ernane de Souza et al.· BMC Geriatrics· 0 citations
Background
Physical activity is essential for healthy ageing, yet older adults with disabilities show lower participation than those without disabilities. This study examined barriers, participation intention, and preferred participation modes among non-participating older adults with disabilities, focusing on heterogeneity across disability types.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from the 2024 National Survey on Sports Participation for Persons with Disabilities in South Korea. The sample included 1,865 adults aged ≥60 years who reported no exercise participation during the previous year under the survey-based definition. Weighted descriptive analyses, Rao-Scott tests, and survey-weighted logistic regression were performed.
Results
The most common primary barriers were lack of motivation (27.1%), poor health condition (23.9%), and lack of time to exercise (11.5%), with significant variation in several barriers across disability types. Severe disability was associated with lower odds of participation intention (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.46-0.85), whereas employment was associated with higher odds (OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.09-1.91). Compared with physical disabilities, hearing and speech disabilities were associated with higher odds of participation intention (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.08-1.89). Among respondents with participation intention, outdoor walking was the most preferred mode (57.5%); preferred modes did not differ significantly across disability types.
Conclusion
Non-participation in exercise was heterogeneous across disability types, particularly in primary reported barriers, while participation intention differed by disability severity, employment status, and disability type. Outdoor walking was the predominant preference among those reporting intention, highlighting the importance of considering both disability-specific heterogeneity and overall preferences when planning exercise-support strategies.
Byum-suk Han· Annals of Geriatric Medicine...· 0 citations
Behavioural risk factors (BRFs) negatively impact health and well-being across life course, including older age. Data on their prevalence among older adults in Germany are scarce. This study examines prevalence of single BRFs — alcohol use, smoking, insufficient vegetable and fruit consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity — and identifies BRF combinations with a focus on sociodemographic disparities in adults aged 65 years and older. The nationwide Gesundheit 65 + study (06/2021–04/2022) used a two-stage, stratified random sample from residents’ registration offices, and a design tailored to older adults. Data from 3,139 participants with complete information on all BRFs were analysed. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for BRFs, their total number, and combinations were stratified by age, sex, and education. Non-overlapping CIs indicated statistical significance. Prevalence estimates were 78.4% for physical inactivity, 71.8% for insufficient vegetable and fruit consumption, 56.3% for alcohol use, 21.0% for obesity, and 9.9% for smoking. Men reported more often than women alcohol use (69.8% vs. 45.2%) and inadequate diet (77.9% vs. 66.7%). Except for inadequate diet, prevalence varied by age and education. Participants averaged 2.4 BRFs; 83.1% reported multiple BRFs. The most frequent combinations were alcohol use + inadequate diet + physical inactivity (21.8%), inadequate diet + physical inactivity (16.0%), and physical inactivity alone (8.3%). Multiple BRFs are highly prevalent among older adults in Germany, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies combining policy measures (e.g. bans on alcohol advertising), community-level interventions (e.g. improved walkability), and targeted individual interventions to promote balanced diet, physical activity, and reduced alcohol use.
B. Gaertner, G. Eckert, J. Fuchs et al.· BMC Geriatrics· 0 citations
Successful aging among rural older adults is influenced by working status and proximity to healthcare facilities, and promoting productive activity and maintaining accessible, independent, and supportive health services are essential for aging well in rural communities.
Retno Indarwati, Joni Haryanto, Elida Ulfiana et al.· Revista da Escola de Enferma...· 0 citations
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between social participation and all-cause mortality among older adults, evaluate associations across different types of social participation, and explore the dose-response relationship between monthly participation frequency and mortality to inform nursing practice and social prescribing strategies.
METHODS
We systematically searched five electronic databases from inception to April 27, 2025, supplemented by reference list screening. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects models. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Dose-response associations were examined by harmonizing participation frequency into sessions per month.
RESULTS
This meta-analysis of 25 prospective cohort studies showed that social participation was associated with lower all-cause mortality among older adults. Compared with low participation, high participation was associated with a lower mortality risk (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.58-0.77), and this association remained statistically significant after adjustment (adjusted HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.74-0.82). Domain-specific analyses suggested inverse associations across several activities, including religious participation, volunteering, hobby clubs, sports groups, and community engagement, with adjusted HRs ranging from 0.74 to 0.82. An exploratory dose-response analysis suggested a possible inverse association between monthly participation frequency and all-cause mortality; each additional monthly session was associated with a lower relative hazard of mortality (HR = 0.946, 95% CI: 0.935-0.960).
CONCLUSION
Social participation was associated with lower all-cause mortality among older adults and may inform nursing and public health strategies that promote social engagement in later life. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because the evidence was observational, several analyses showed moderate-to-substantial heterogeneity, and the exploratory dose-response analysis was based on only five studies. Future longitudinal studies with standardized exposure assessment and rigorous adjustment for baseline health and functional status are needed.
Background/Objectives: The use of weight-control medications (WCMs) has increased rapidly, yet little is known about the physical activity (PA) behaviours of users. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify factors associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among Korean WCM users and to examine sex-specific differences. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed data from the 2024 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS). A total of 6604 adults (men: n = 1209; women: n = 5395) using WCMs for weight control were included. Multivariable logistic regression, accounting for complex survey design weights, was conducted separately for men and women. Results: The weighted prevalence of MVPA was higher in men (32.3%) than in women (20.9%). Among men, being unmarried/divorced/widowed (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.12–2.07) was positively associated with MVPA, whereas being aged ≥60 years (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.28–0.83) was associated with lower odds. Among women, being aged 50–59 years (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.07–1.78) was associated with higher MVPA participation, whereas poor self-rated health (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.47–0.76) was associated with lower odds. Conclusions: Factors associated with MVPA among WCM users differed between men and women, suggesting that sex-specific approaches may be beneficial when promoting PA in this population. This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which preclude causal inference.
Bo-young Kim· Healthcare· 0 citations
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