title: Life-space mobility and social support in elderly adults with orthopaedic disorders.
abstract: The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to explore relationships between life-space mobility and the related factors in elderly Japanese people who attend orthopaedic clinics. The study measures included surveys of life-space mobility (Life-space Assessment (LSA) score), social support (social network diversity and social ties), physical ability (instrumental self-maintenance, intellectual activity, social role), orthopaedic factors (diseases and symptoms) and demographic information. The questionnaire was distributed to 156 subjects; 152 persons responded, yielding 140 valid responses. Mean age of the sample was 76.0 ± 6.4 (range, 65-96 years), with 57.9% women (n = 81). In a multiple regression analysis, the six factors were significantly associated with LSA. Standardized partial regression coefficients (β) were gender (0.342), instrumental self-maintenance (0.297), social network diversity (0.217), age (-0.170), difficulty of motion (-0.156) and intellectual activity (0.150), with an adjusted R(2) = 0.488. These results suggest that outpatient health-care providers need to intervene in not only addressing orthopaedic factors but also promoting social support among elderly Japanese.
authors.affiliation: Center for Education and Research in Nursing Practice, Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitaike
authors.forename: Sumie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikezaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009068:Movement; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012944:Social Support
keywords: elderly orthopaedic patient; life-space mobility; nursing; social support