Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Older Adults Regarding Respiratory Diseases in Guaranda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i3.1037Keywords:
older adults; knowledge, attitudes, and practices; respiratory diseases; prevention; health education.Abstract
Respiratory diseases represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults due to aging and the presence of chronic conditions that increase susceptibility to complications. The objective was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding respiratory disease prevention among older adults from Guaranda canton, Bolívar Province, Ecuador. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 132 participants enrolled in the Mis Mejores Años program of the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES), from November 2021 to January 2022. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and generalized linear models. The median age was 72 years (IQR: 66–76.5); 54.5% of participants were women, 63.6% lived in urban areas, and 28.8% had no formal education. The most frequent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (38.5%) and arterial hypertension (21.3%). A total of 55.3% of participants showed sufficient knowledge, 19.0% had positive or neutral attitudes, and 56.8% reported adequate preventive practices. Educational level was associated with knowledge (p < 0.001) and preventive practices (p = 0.045), whereas residential area was associated with attitudes (p < 0.001). It was concluded that strengthening educational strategies is necessary to improve preventive attitudes and consolidate healthy behaviors regarding respiratory diseases among older adults.
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