Evaluation of Elderly's Integrated Healthcare components in primary healthcare centers of 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.