Community Health Dialogue Implementation for the Solution of Loneliness in Rural Communities: Autoethnography.

Autor:	Ohta R; Communiy Care, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan, JPN., Yakabe T; Family Medicine, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan, JPN., Adachi H; Family Medicine, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan, JPN., Sano C; Community Medicine Management, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, JPN.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Cureus [Cureus] 2024 Aug 19; Vol. 16 (8), pp. e67245. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 19 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.67245
Abstrakt:	Introduction: Isolation and loneliness among older adults in rural communities pose significant risks to physical and mental health, leading to higher rates of morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the impact of continual rural health dialogues facilitated by family physicians on reducing loneliness and enhancing community health in Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Method: Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we conducted a qualitative study involving 165 participants over 65 from five rural communities between April 2022 and March 2024. Monthly health dialogues covered chronic diseases, exercise, and polypharmacy. Data were collected through ethnographic observations, focus group interviews, and field notes, with iterative coding and analysis to identify themes and concepts. Results: Three primary themes emerged: the existence of loneliness and its impact on health, motivation to address loneliness through a sense of security, and recognition of the importance of community engagement in reducing loneliness. Participants reported increased health awareness, enhanced community interaction, and recognition of loneliness's prevalence and health impacts. Regular dialogues fostered trust with healthcare professionals, encouraged proactive health management, and facilitated supportive community connections. These interactions significantly reduced feelings of loneliness and improved health outcomes. Conclusion: Continual rural health dialogues effectively mitigate loneliness and enhance health outcomes in rural communities by fostering regular interactions and building supportive networks. These findings underscore the importance of community engagement and continuous relationships with healthcare professionals in addressing loneliness. Policymakers and healthcare providers should consider integrating such dialogues into rural health strategies to promote healthier, more connected communities. Future research should explore these interventions' long-term sustainability and broader applicability across diverse rural settings. Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Unnan City Hospital Clinical Ethics Committee issued approval 20230010. The Unnan City Hospital Clinical Ethics Committee approved the study protocol (No. 20220002). Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. (Copyright © 2024, Ohta et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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