1.Help-Seeking From Traditional Healers Among Singaporean Older Adults
Shazana Binte Mohamed Shahwan ; Edimansyah Abdin ; Janhavi Vaingankar ; Saleha Binte Shafie ; Chong Siow Ann ; Mythily Subramaniam
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2016;17(2):160-170
The objectives were to identify the socio-demographic characteristics
of older adults who visit traditional healers as well as identify medical and
psychiatric conditions that are associated with visits to the traditional healer.
Methods: Data from 2563 older adults who participated in the Well-being of the
Singapore Elderly (WiSE) population-based survey was used. Sociodemographic
information, details on traditional healer visits as well as medical
and psychiatric conditions were collated through an adapted 10/66 protocol.
Results: A total of 10.4% of older adults sought help from a traditional healer
within the past three months. There were significantly more visits to traditional
healers by women, those whose highest level of education was primary or
secondary school, those who had stomach/intestine problems and those who had
anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Traditional healers appear to be a preferred
source of help among some older adult groups. Future research should focus on
the impact of seeking help from these alternative healthcare providers in terms
of clinical outcomes and costs. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 17 (2): July –
December 2016: XX XX.
2.Screening for Drinking Problems in the Elderly in Singapore Using the CAGE Questionnaire.
Clarissa Wy ONG ; Vathsala SAGAYADEVAN ; Edimansyah ABDIN ; Saleha Binte SHAFIE ; Anitha JEYAGURUNATHAN ; Goi Khia ENG ; Louisa PICCO ; Janhavi VAINGANKAR ; Siow Ann CHONG ; Mythily SUBRAMANIAM
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2016;45(10):456-465
INTRODUCTIONGiven that past research on drinking problems has focused primarily on younger samples, the present study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among the elderly in Singapore.
MATERIALS AND METHODSData were extracted from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study, a cross-sectional, epidemiological survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of Singapore residents (n = 2565) aged 60 years and above. Variables assessed include drinking problems, depression and anxiety symptoms, obesity, smoking status, chronic physical disorders and disability.
RESULTSThe weighted prevalence of drinking problems (CAGE score ≥2) in our sample was 4.2%. Male sex, Indian ethnicity, and being divorced or separated were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of drinking problems. Participants with drinking problems were also more likely to have subthreshold depression. There were no significant differences in disability among those with drinking problems, those without drinking problems and non-drinkers, after adjusting for demographic variables.
CONCLUSIONOur findings contribute to the body of research that indicates an association between drinking problems and depressive symptoms among the elderly. Thus, screening for depressive symptoms in the elderly with drinking problems may be useful in identifying such comorbidities in order to aid treatment planning.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol-Related Disorders ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Alcoholism ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Anxiety ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Divorce ; statistics & numerical data ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; India ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Smoking ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires
3.Disability in Singapore's Elderly Population.
Mithila MAHESH ; Edimansyah ABDIN ; Janhavi Ajit VAINGANKAR ; Louisa PICCO ; Anita JEYAGURUNATHAN ; Saleha Binte SHAFIE ; Shirlene PANG ; Vathsala SAGAYADEVAN ; Esmond SEOW ; Siow Ann CHONG ; Mythily SUBRAMANIAM
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2016;45(7):284-296
INTRODUCTIONDisability increases an individual's dependence and negatively impacts their physical, mental, and social functioning. The current study aims to establish the prevalence and risk factors of disability in Singapore's population.
MATERIALS AND METHODSData was extracted from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study. This cross-sectional study recruited participants aged 60 years and above (n = 2421) who were representative of Singapore's multiethnic population. We used the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 to assess the severity of disability in our sample while establishing its associations and correlations with cognitive levels, sociodemographic variables, and chronic illness.
RESULTSCognitive deficits, old age, female gender, Malay and Indian ethnicity, lack of education, retired or homemaker status, presence of chronic illness (specifically stroke, heart problems, depression, and dementia) were found to be significantly associated with disability in Singapore's elderly population. As hypothesised, participants with deficits in cognition were more likely to indicate higher WHODAS scores.
CONCLUSIONThe findings highlighted specific factors associated with disability in this multiethnic population. The identification of these factors would lead the way to the development of appropriate interventions.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dementia ; epidemiology ; Depression ; epidemiology ; Disabled Persons ; Educational Status ; Ethnic Groups ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; epidemiology ; Humans ; India ; Malassezia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Retirement ; statistics & numerical data ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Stroke ; epidemiology