Associations between neighbourhood characteristics and community mobility in older adults with chronic health conditions

作者：Hand Carri^*

来源：Disability and Rehabilitation, 2016, 38(17): 1664-1671.

DOI：10.3109/09638288.2015.1107638

• Chronic disease
• cross-sectional studies
• mobility limitation
• residence characteristics
• social environment

Purpose: To explore associations between perceptions of neighbourhood built and social characteristics and satisfaction with community mobility in older adults with chronic health conditions.
Method: Two hundred and thirty-seven community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or more with one or more of arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes or heart disease completed a cross-sectional, mailed survey. The survey addressed community mobility and 11 neighbourhood characteristics: amenities (three types), problems (six), social cohesion and safety. Analysis involved logistic regression modeling for each neighbourhood characteristic.
Results: Satisfaction with community mobility was associated with perception of no traffic problems (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4-6.2, p <= 0.05) and neighbourhood safety (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.2-9.8, p <= 0.05), adjusted for age, ability to walk several blocks and depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: Satisfaction with community mobility is associated with neighbourhood safety and no traffic problems among older adults with chronic conditions. While further research is needed to explore these neighbourhood characteristics in more detail and to examine causation, addressing these neighbourhood characteristics in health services or community initiatives may help promote community mobility in this population.

• 出版日期2016