Frailty knowledge level and its influencing factors among older adults in China

Geriatr Nurs. 2023 Mar-Apr:50:247-254. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.01.004. Epub 2023 Feb 19.

Abstract

Raising older adults' frailty knowledge level and encouraging them to actively engage in the prevention and treatment of frailty is essential to promote healthy aging. This cross-sectional study investigated frailty knowledge level and its influencing factors in community-dwelling older adults in China. A total of 734 older adults were included in the analysis. About half of them misjudged their frailty state (42.50%), and 17.17% obtained frailty knowledge in the community. Those who were female, lived in rural areas, lived alone, had not attended school, had a monthly income <3,000RMB, were at risk for malnutrition, were depressed, and were socially isolated were more likely to have lower frailty knowledge level. Those with advanced age and pre-frailty or frailty stage were more knowledgeable about frailty. The group with the highest proportion of low frailty knowledge level was those who had never attended school or completed primary school and had loose friend ties (98.7%). It is crucial to develop tailored intervention to raise frailty knowledge level in older adults in China.

Keywords: China; Community; Education; Frailty; Knowledge; Older adults; Social participation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • China
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Frail Elderly
  • Frailty*
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Independent Living
  • Male