Investigating the health profile of Macau Chinese.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the health profile of a group of older people in Macau.


BACKGROUND
People were concerned about their current health status, and Macau people are placing increasing importance on their health.


METHODS
A descriptive survey was conducted during the period July and August 2004 in six parishes in Macau; 1836 older people aged 60-98 completed a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
Cluster analysis revealed three profiles within five main factors: physical, functional, mental, social and nutritional, and demographic.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data describing older people's health status can be structured into a profile reflecting the characteristics of the population under study. Healthcare professionals will be able to apply these health profiles to develop interventions that improve this population's health and daily functioning, and broaden their social network.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings will assist healthcare professionals or nurse practitioners by creating health profiles that they can use to develop interventions to improve the health of older Chinese in Macau.
Assistant Professor, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore (former Staff of Kiang Wu College of Macau, Macau SAR, China)Associate Professor, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
Moon Fai
MF
Chan
Assistant Professor, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore (former Staff of Kiang Wu College of Macau, Macau SAR, China)Associate Professor, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
Ming Xia
MX
Zhu
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008256:Macau / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
elder care; health promotion