Homepage > Research abstracts > Over a decade of follow-up of women at midlife: Utilization of health services in the digital era
Over a decade of follow-up of women at midlife: Utilization of health services in the digital era
Researchers: Liat Lerner-Geva1,2, Yael Benyamini2, Adel Farhi1, Galit Hirsh-Yechezkel1
- Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research Ltd., Tel Hashomer
- Tel Aviv University
Background: The increasing life-span poses major challenges for the health system. In the past decade, internet access has afforded an important portal for information regarding health issues.
Objectives: 1. To investigate the changes that occurred over a decade in the health status, screening examinations, and healthy life style among women of advanced age.
2. To assess the use of the internet for health issues.
2. To assess the use of the internet for health issues.
Method: This is a follow-up study of three groups of women aged 50-79: Jewish veteran citizens, Jewish new immigrants, and Arabs. A comprehensive telephone interview was conducted with 484 participants who had been interviewed over ten years earlier.
Findings: • In all study groups, there was a decline in health status since the baseline study, with the Arab women reporting the poorest health.
• A large proportion of the women underwent mammography as recommended, however the rates of compliance with recommendations for Pap test and bone density screening were low.
• Most of the Jewish veteran and immigrant women used the internet, but very few of the Arab women did so.
• At least half of those veteran women who accessed the internet, also used their HMO's website.
• A large proportion of the women underwent mammography as recommended, however the rates of compliance with recommendations for Pap test and bone density screening were low.
• Most of the Jewish veteran and immigrant women used the internet, but very few of the Arab women did so.
• At least half of those veteran women who accessed the internet, also used their HMO's website.
Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight significant disparities among the study groups, particularly between the Jewish and Arab women. The results point to the need for raising awareness regarding preventive screening examinations and adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Improving the accessibility to health-related websites can contribute to this goal.
Recommendations: 1. Raising awareness among elderly women regarding undergoing screening examinations and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
2. Development of ways to increase health motivation and accessibility to the internet in a culturally appropriate manner, and conducting workshops on informed use of health-related websites.
3. Translation of informative and administrative aspects of HMO websites into other commonly spoken languages.
2. Development of ways to increase health motivation and accessibility to the internet in a culturally appropriate manner, and conducting workshops on informed use of health-related websites.
3. Translation of informative and administrative aspects of HMO websites into other commonly spoken languages.
Research number: R/115/2016
Research end date: 06/2019