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BackgroundSeveral studies indicate that older age is a risk factor for probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, evidence on the prevalence and risk factors for elderly disaster survivors is limited.MethodsMulti-stage stratified sampling was applied in this cross-sectional study. The Revised Version of the Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) was used to evaluate symptoms of PTSD. Chi-squared test was used for univariable analysis of prevalence of probable PTSD by possible determinants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to further explore risk factors for PTSD.Results427 elderly survivors age 60 or older participated. The prevalence of probable PTSD was 40.5, 36.3, and 21.5% according to a cut off score of the IES-R of 33, 35, and 2 points on average across items, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression, elderly survivors with a higher number of diagnosed chronic illnesses were more likely to be screened positive for PTSD and those with a greater number of family members living in the same home were less likely to be classified as having probable PTSD for all cut off scores. Elderly survivors with improved economic status and those with primary school or lower education were more often estimated to have probable PTSD with a cut off score of 35 and 2 points on average.ConclusionsElderly survivors in a high impact area following a major earthquake are at high risk for developing PTSD. Those who live alone and report pre-existing chronic illness are particularly vulnerable.

• Respect (73%, 1265/1727) was the most needed. Re-employment or part-time jobs (71%, 1230/1727) was the most unneeded • Five protection and safety items were the most unmet but needed factors. • Religion was the main influencing factor that were less unmet but needed. • Primary medical services, especially chronic disease management and emergency care, still need to be improved in China. • It is essential to build flexible retirement policies, such as raising the retirement age or returning to work. To investigate the needed, unneeded and unmet health care services among rural community-dwelling older adults in China and examine the influencing factors, aiming to facilitate the global development of the home care system for a healthier world. This cross-sectional study investigated rural areas in three provinces in Western China. A total of 1727 rural community-dwelling older adults were enrolled. The needed, unneeded and unmet health care services were assessed by the Supply and Demand of Health Care Services (SD-HCS) questionnaire for older adults. Respect (73%, 1265/1727) was the most needed. The other top 9 needed mainly belonged to the divisions of health monitoring and information regarding chronic diseases. Re-employment or part-time jobs (71%, 1230/1727) was the most unneeded. All five protection and safety items were the most unmet but needed. Religion was the main influencing factor of those health care services that were less unmet but needed. Respect was basic for older adults, and chronic disease management was in great demand among rural community-dwelling older adults. Due to low willingness and the crisis workforce, a more flexible retirement policy is needed in rural China. It is urgent to improve the emergency care system in rural areas. Last but not least, more research is needed to explore the association between religion and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to examine the independent associations of each individual physical performance measure (i.e., grip strength, walking speed, repeated chair stands, and balance test) with subdomains of cognitive function and to determine predictors for each subdomain of cognitive function. A secondary data analysis was performed using a nationally representative middle-aged and older sample of hypertensive population. The findings showed that after adding all four physical performance measures, stronger grip strength was significantly associated with better visuospatial abilities, episodic memory, orientation/attention, and overall cognitive function. In addition, faster walking speed and faster repeated chair stands were strongly associated with better episodic memory and overall cognitive function, respectively. Because grip strength was significantly associated with several subdomains of cognitive functioning, it seems conceivable that increasing physical activity would improve both grip strength and cognitive function in patients with hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster healthcare rescuers are at risk of experiencing negative psychological effects. However, some are said to be resilient and to be protected from negative consequences. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the characteristics of those disaster healthcare rescuers who were considered resilient in rescue work, and examine whether they experienced any positive changes in their life after being involved in rescue work. Focused group interviews were conducted with disaster healthcare rescuers from Sichuan, China. Purposive sampling was used to identify those disaster healthcare rescue workers who were deployed to conduct disaster work, who were able to continue doing their daily work, and who were considered to be resilient and to have suffered no obvious negative psychological consequences. Interviews were conducted until the point of data saturation. An inductive content analysis approach was adopted to analyze the data. A total of four focus group interviews were conducted with 21 disaster rescue workers who were considered to be resilient. The healthcare rescuers considered that the characteristics that contributed to resilience were: having personality strengths, utilizing appropriate coping strategies, having social support, and making adequate preparations for rescue work. The rescuers also reported that they experienced positive changes in their life after deployment. The characteristics of the resilience shown by disaster healthcare rescuers were identified. Adequate preparedness and training for disaster rescue work is essential for the resilience of rescue workers. The identified characteristics can be used for the development of a tool for the screening of disaster rescuers and the development of interventions to enhance resilience in rescue workers, with the ultimate aim of preventing disaster rescuers from experiencing negative psychological consequences. • Personality strengths, appropriate coping and social support, preparations for rescue work were the characteristics of disaster resilience of rescuers. • The rescuers also reported that they experienced positive changes in their life after deployment. • Interventions are needed to foster resilience, which may mitigate negative psychological consequences in rescue workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]