Kate O'Loughlin

The health impact of a hearing disability on older people in Australia.

Objectives: A series of studies has proposed that hearing loss has adverse effects for other aspects of health. This article examines the health effects associated with self-reported hearing disability on older people. Methods: The study utilized the 2003 Australian Survey of Disability, Ageing, and Carers (n = 43,233), a weighted population-based survey providing data on self-reported disability and quality of life, to examine hearing disability among older Australians (55 years plus). Results: Of the estimated 654,113 people reporting hearing disability, 71% experienced limited communication and 60% used hearing aids. Compared with population norms, hearing disability at all levels was associated with poorer physical and mental health scores on the SF-12 measure, especially for people with severe or profound hearing loss, thus suggesting a threshold effect at advanced levels of disability. Discussion: Data support emerging literature suggesting a causal relationship between hearing disability and quality of life. Prospective studies to further examine this relationship are indicated.

Hearing loss and paid employment: Australian population survey findings

This paper provides an analysis of participation in paid employment for people with a hearing loss over the full span of adult ages. The paper is based on original analysis of the 2003 Australian survey of disability, aging and carers (SDAC). This analysis shows that hearing loss was associated with an increased rate of non-participation in employment of between 11.3% and 16.6%. Advancing age and the existence of co-morbidities contribute significantly to reduced participation in employment. A disproportionate impact is evident for women and for those having low education and communication difficulties. Controlling for co-morbidities, hearing loss was associated with a 2.1% increase of non-participation in employment, a proportional difference of 1.4 times the population. People with hearing loss were less likely to be found in highly skilled jobs and were over-represented among low income earners. The SDAC data set provides self-report findings on the experience of disability rather than hearing impairment. As such, these findings serve as a conservative estimate of the impact of hearing loss on accessing well-paid employment.

Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on employed Australian baby boomers: A national survey

Aim:  This paper examines the impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) on employed Australian baby boomers.

Australian Baby Boomers Face Retirement During the Global Financial Crisis

This paper examines the impact in Australia of the global financial crisis on the baby boom cohort approaching later life. Data from national focus groups of people aged 50 to 64 years (N = 73), conducted in late 2008, found widespread but variable concern and uncertainty concerning work and retirement plans and experiences. A national survey (N = 1,009) of those aged 50 to 64 years in mid-2009 reported lower levels of financial satisfaction compared with other life domains; many planned to postpone retirement. Findings are interpreted in the context of policies and markets that differed significantly from those in the United States, notwithstanding the global nature of the financial crisis.

Adapting data collection methods in the Australian Life Histories and Health Survey: a retrospective life course study

Objective Ideally, life course data are collected prospectively through an ongoing longitudinal study. We report adaptive multimethod fieldwork procedures that gathered life history data by mail survey and telephone interview, comparable with the face-to-face methods employed in the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA). Design The Australian Life Histories and Health (LHH) Survey was a substudy of the Australian 45 and Up Study, with data collection methods modified from the ELSA Study. A self-complete questionnaire and life history calendar were completed by the participants, followed by a computer-assisted telephone interview recording key life events. Results The LHH survey developed and tested procedures and instruments that gathered rich life history data within an ongoing Australian longitudinal survey on ageing. Data collection proved to be economical. The use of a self-complete questionnaire in conjunction with a life history calendar and coordinated computer-assisted telephone interview was successful in collecting retrospective life course information, in terms of being thorough, practical and efficient. This study has a diverse collection of data covering the life course, starting with early life experiences and continuing with socioeconomic and health exposures and outcomes during adult life. Conclusions Mail and telephone methodology can accurately and economically add a life history dimension to an ongoing longitudinal survey. The method is particularly valuable for surveying widely dispersed populations. The results will facilitate understanding of the social determinants of health by gathering data on earlier life exposures as well as comparative data across geographical and societal contexts.

Cities, environmental stressors, ageing and chronic disease.

Aim:  This study attempts to identify any association between length of exposure to urban environmental risk and non‐infectious chronic disease in a group of Australian residents who lived in the same location for at least 20 years.

Attitudes towards intergenerational equity: Preliminary Australian evidence

Introduction Australia is facing the distinct possibility that future generations could have worse lifelong economic prospects than their parents’ generation now entering later life. Over the postwar era, ongoing economic improvements largely benefited people at young to middle ages at the time, with older people being relatively disadvantaged by their cohort of birth (e.g. during the Depression) as well as health and income declines in later life. However, the post-WWII baby boom cohort now entering later life includes many who accumulated substantial wealth and other resources from favourable employment and housing markets notably in the 1980s. There is growing evidence that these opportunities have been relatively less available to very old people today (the pre-WWII birth cohort) and also to younger generations entering adulthood over recent decades [1–3].

Understanding decision-making towards housework among women with upper limb repetitive strain injury

BACKGROUND Among women with upper limb repetitive strain injury (RSI), occupational therapy interventions include education to facilitate ergonomic practices in housework. From a client-centred perspective, an understanding of womens decision-making about housework is needed to design effective occupational therapy programmes. This study addresses a gap in research in this area by exploring womens views about changing housework habits. AIM The aim was to construct a conceptual representation to explain decision-making in housework by drawing on experiences of a sample of Singapore Chinese women with upper limb RSI from one hand therapy clinic. METHODS Based on a constructivist grounded theory methodology, data were collected through in-depth interviewing with 15 women. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were analysed with line by line coding, focussed coding and axial coding with constant comparison throughout data collection. RESULTS Decision-making in housework among these women involved three main themes: (i) emotional attachment to housework; (ii) cognitively informed decision; and (iii) emotionally influenced decision. Women with upper limb RSI had to make cognitive decisions for or against a change in housework to manage their condition. However, the womens cognitively informed decisions were shaped by their emotional attachment to housework. As such, they experienced strong emotional barriers to changing their housework practices even when they had cognitively accepted the necessity and possibility of making a change. CONCLUSIONS Therapists need to be aware that counselling to address the emotional barriers experienced by women is important during ergonomic education.

Risk Factors for Falls in Community Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE To identify the risk factors for falls in community stroke survivors. DATA SOURCES A comprehensive search for articles indexed in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was conducted. STUDY SELECTION Prospective studies investigating fall risk factors in community stroke survivors were included. Reviewers in pair independently screened the articles and determined inclusion through consensus. Studies meeting acceptable quality rating using the Q-Coh tool were included in the meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION Data extraction was done in duplicate by 4 reviewers using a standardized data extraction sheet and confirmed by another independent reviewer for completeness and accuracy. DATA SYNTHESIS Twenty-one articles met the minimum criteria for inclusion; risk factors investigated by ≥3 studies (n=16) were included in the meta-analysis. The following risk factors had a strong association with all fallers: impaired mobility (odds ratio [OR], 4.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.68-7.10); reduced balance (OR, 3.87; 95% CI, 2.39-6.26); use of sedative or psychotropic medications (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.36-7.48); disability in self-care (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.51-3.49); depression (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.18-3.75); cognitive impairment (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.02-2.99); and history of fall (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.03-2.72). A history of fall (OR, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.05-7.01) had a stronger association with recurrent fallers. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that balance and mobility problems, assisted self-care, taking sedative or psychotropic medications, cognitive impairment, depression, and history of falling are associated with falls in community stroke survivors. We recommend that any future research into fall prevention programs should consider addressing these modifiable risk factors. Because the risk factors for falls in community stroke survivors are multifactorial, interventions should be multidimensional.

Socioeconomic, psychological and demographic determinants of Australian baby boomers' financial planning for retirement

Aim:  Research from around the Western World has shown that psychological, socioeconomic and demographic factors can influence levels of financial planning. This study aims to determine how these factors interrelate to predict planning outcomes.