Social connectedness and engagement in preventive health services: an analysis of data from a prospective cohort study

Stafford, Mai; Wagner, Christian von; Perman, Sarah M.; Taylor, Jayne; Kuh, Diana; Sheringham, Jessica

doi:10.1016/s2468-2667(18)30141-5

Cited by 56 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(51 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This variable ranged from 0 (where study members attended no health checks) to 1 (where study members attended 6 out of 6 checks). A summary measure of all health checks was used to capture engagement with preventive health care rather than to explore the predictors of individual health checks (which were not expected to vary [41]).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations of health check attendance in later life: results from a British birth cohort study

Wilson

Kuh

2019

BMC Public Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundOlder adults are advised to attend a number of preventive health checks to preserve health and identify risk factors for disease. Previous research has identified a number of health and social factors, labelled as predisposing, enabling and need factors, using Andersen’s Behavioural Model of Health Service Use, that are associated with health care utilisation. We aimed to assess associations between factors from childhood and adulthood, and health check attendance in later life in a British birth cohort study.MethodsFor 2370 study members from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), health check attendance was assessed at age 68. Study members were asked if they: attended blood pressure and cholesterol checks, had their eyes tested, received the influenza vaccine, attended colon cancer screening and dental checks. Health and social factors from childhood and adulthood were used in binomial regression models to test associations with health check attendance in men and women.ResultsHealth check attendance was high; 41% reported attending all six health checks within the recommended time frame. In multivariable models, being a non-smoker and having more health conditions in adulthood were associated with greater health check attendance in men and women. In women, childhood socioeconomic advantage, being more physically active in midlife and previously attending screening procedures, and in men, greater self-organisation in adolescence and being married were associated with attending more health checks in later life, following adjustments for childhood and adulthood factors.ConclusionsA number of predisposing, enabling and need factors from childhood and adulthood were found to be associated with health check attendance at age 68, demonstrating the relevance of applying a life course perspective to Andersen’s model in investigating health check attendance in later life. Health related factors were found to be stronger correlates of health check attendance than socioeconomic factors.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations of health check attendance in later life: results from a British birth cohort study

Wilson

Kuh

2019

BMC Public Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1–4 Social factors such as relationship status and social contact networks are also related to BMI and other aspects of health. 5–7 Higher BMI is associated with stigma, discrimination, lower self-esteem, and physical and mental ill-health 8–15 , all of which could potentially affect social, educational, and employment outcomes, meaning that the relationships between SEP, social factors and BMI could be bidirectional. A study conducted by Flint et al 16 demonstrated considerable weight bias in the recruitment process; employers across various sectors rated the same curriculum vitae as less suitable for a job when it was accompanied by a photograph of a person with obesity, particularly a woman with obesity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of body mass index on relationship status, social contact, and socioeconomic position: Mendelian Randomization study in UK Biobank

Howe

Kanayalal

Beaumont

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To assess whether body mass index (BMI) has a causal effect on social and socioeconomic factors, including whether both high and low BMI can be detrimental. Design: Mendelian Randomization, using genetic variants for BMI to obtain unconfounded estimates, and non-linear Mendelian Randomization. Setting: UK Biobank. Participants: 378,244 men and women of European ancestry, mean age 57 (SD 8 years). Main outcome measures: Townsend deprivation index, income, age completed full time education, degree level education, job class, employment status, cohabiting relationship status, participation in leisure and social activities, visits from friends and family, and having someone to confide in. Results: Higher BMI was causally associated with higher deprivation, lower income, fewer years of education, lower odds of degree-level education and skilled employment. For example, a 1 SD higher genetically-determined BMI (4.8kg/m2 in UK Biobank) was associated with 1,660 UK pounds less income per annum [95%CI: 950, 2,380]. Non-linear Mendelian Randomization provided evidence that both low BMI (bottom decile, <22kg/m2) and high BMI (top seven deciles, >24.6kg/m2) can increase deprivation and reduce income. In men only, higher BMI was related to lower participation in leisure and social activities. There was no evidence of causal effects of BMI on visits from friends and family or in having someone to confide in. Non-linear Mendelian Randomization analysis showed that low BMI (bottom three deciles, <23.5kg/m2) reduces the odds of cohabiting with a partner or spouse for men, whereas high BMI (top two deciles, >30.7kg/m2) reduces the odds of cohabitation with a partner or spouse for women. Conclusions: BMI affects social and socioeconomic outcomes, with both high and low BMI being detrimental for some measures of SEP. This suggests that in addition to health benefits, maintaining healthy ranges of BMI across the population could have benefits both for individuals and society.

show abstract

“…Research shows that social connectedness can be a powerful phenomenon to tap into when planning for public health interventions. Improved mental health, reduced depression, enhanced sense of belonging, improved health-seeking behaviour, reduced stress, enhanced self-esteem, and improved cognition are all notable bene ts of social connectedness (3,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Evidence has shown that people with decreased social connectedness have poor mental and physical health and higher morbidity and mortality compared to those with strong social connectedness (8)(9)(10)(11)13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Study on The Role of Community Health Workers In Influencing Social Connectedness Using The Household Model: A Case Study of Neno District, Malawi

Ndambo¹,

Munyaneza²,

Aron³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: There is growing global recognition that community health workers (CHWs) play a key role in facilitating social connectedness. Through direct interactions and relationship building, CHWs link people to key services such as healthcare and social support. Several models aim to understand how CHWs facilitate these interactions, but the theory of change is not yet fully understood. In Neno District, Malawi, CHWs recently transitioned from a disease-focused model to what we call the “household model.” Under the household model, each CHW is assigned to several households to provide screening and linkage to care, as well as psychosocial and chronic disease support. We theorise that this public health approach facilitates social connectedness in the households and rural communities served by CHWs. We aim to understand drivers of influence on social connections from the CHW-, healthcare worker-, and patient perspectives. Methods: This was a cross-sectional qualitative study utilising focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled community stakeholders, CHWs, health service providers, and patients (total N=180) from October 2018 through March 2020. Results: Participants reported improved social interactions and connectedness and increased access to health care in their communities following the transition to the household model. This was driven by factors including reduced stigma and discrimination, empowerment of households and community members, and fostering both social cohesiveness and individual agency in accessing health services. The main themes that emanated from this study are; expansion of care by CHWs, trust in CHW’s provision of care, and equal treatment of community members by CHWs. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that through the polyvalent household model, CHWs foster high levels of social connectedness in the communities, evidenced by a reported reduction in stigma and discrimination and an increase in individual agency in accessing health services.

show abstract

Social connectedness and engagement in preventive health services: an analysis of data from a prospective cohort study

Cited by 56 publications

References 31 publications

Variations of health check attendance in later life: results from a British birth cohort study

Variations of health check attendance in later life: results from a British birth cohort study

Effects of body mass index on relationship status, social contact, and socioeconomic position: Mendelian Randomization study in UK Biobank

A Qualitative Study on The Role of Community Health Workers In Influencing Social Connectedness Using The Household Model: A Case Study of Neno District, Malawi

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About