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Healthcare Strategies for Patients with Chronic Diseases in an Ageing...
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Healthcare Strategies for Patients with Chronic Diseases in an Ageing Society: Second Edition

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1704

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hidetaka Hamasaki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hamasaki Clinic, Kagoshima 8900046, Japan
Interests: diabetes and obesity management; physical activity; non-exercise activity thermogenesis; wearable devices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many developed countries are facing an ageing population and a declining birth rate. According to the World Health Organisation, the population of those aged 60 years and older is expected to reach two billion by 2050. The sustainability of current healthcare systems is threatened by this rapidly ageing population. On the other hand, the number of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes is also increasing worldwide, which represents a serious “pandemic”. Given that this increasing trend will continue, hospitals and clinics will overflow with older patients with chronic diseases, resulting in the collapse of healthcare systems. We are now required to establish an effective healthcare system in a super-ageing society. For example, integrated healthcare, which involves sharing information and coordination among healthcare providers, patients, healthcare organisations, and communities, is a useful tool to provide appropriate healthcare services to older patients who are physically and socially weak. Recent studies have suggested that monitoring patients’ biological information, such as vital signs and physical activity, sharing the information between stakeholders, and guiding patients to optimal healthcare services using remote monitoring systems will improve patients’ quality of life and mortality and eventually reduce healthcare costs to society.

This Special Issue invites a broad spectrum of research topics regarding healthcare strategies for patients with chronic diseases, including, but not restricted to, diabetes in an ageing society. We will compile original research articles, case reports, and critical reviews (narrative/systematic). The topics of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, ageing society, patient-centred care, patient satisfaction, quality of care, diet and physical activity for frail elderly people, wearable devices, e-health, m-health, the Internet of Things, digital solutions, and other related topics.

Dr. Hidetaka Hamasaki
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ageing society
  • integrated healthcare
  • patient-centred care
  • chronic disease
  • diabetes
  • physical activity
  • wearable device
  • e-health
  • m-health
  • healthcare system
  • sustainable healthcare

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 214 KiB  
Article
Caregiving Intensity, Duration, and Subjective Financial Well-Being Among Rural Informal Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses or Disabilities
by Sampada Wagle, Siqi Yang, Evans Appiah Osei, Bhagyashree Katare and Nasreen Lalani
Healthcare 2024, 12(22), 2260; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12222260 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 710
Abstract
Introduction: Rural informal caregivers (IC) experience major financial and economic constraints in caring for their older family members. Rurality combined with increased caregiving demands and intensity, poor economic opportunities, and limited financial resources and policies create multiple financial stressors and can lead to [...] Read more.
Introduction: Rural informal caregivers (IC) experience major financial and economic constraints in caring for their older family members. Rurality combined with increased caregiving demands and intensity, poor economic opportunities, and limited financial resources and policies create multiple financial stressors and can lead to poor financial well-being. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to understand how caregiving demands, intensity, and duration impact the subjective financial well-being of rural caregivers of older adults. Methods: Informal caregivers (N = 196) residing in 12 rural counties in the central North Region of the Midwestern US participated in the survey. Ordinary Least Squares and Linear Probability Model regressions were conducted to measure the association among the study variables. Results: Our findings showed a moderate level of subjective financial well-being among informal caregivers (average = 51.62; SD 14.52). Caregiving intensity negatively affected financial well-being (β = −1.470, p < 0.05). More than half of informal caregivers (58%) were not satisfied with their household income, and 30% found it difficult to meet their family’s needs with their current income status. Discussion and Conclusions: Longer hours of care are associated with financial burden and insecurity and can significantly influence the financial health and well-being of rural informal caregivers of older adults. Older caregivers were found to manage their financial constraints more effectively. Future comparative and longitudinal studies with a more diverse sample are required to infer long-term interactions among the different variables in this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthcare Strategies for Patients with Chronic Diseases in an Ageing Society: Second Edition)
30 pages, 958 KiB  
Article
Gender Differences in the Functional Limitations of Frail Older People Ageing in Place Alone in Italy
by Maria Gabriella Melchiorre, Marco Socci, Giovanni Lamura and Sabrina Quattrini
Healthcare 2024, 12(22), 2259; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12222259 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Background/Objectives Older people with functional limitations find it difficult to age in place alone, without cohabiting with relatives. In light of this, this paper aimed to investigate possible gender differences in this respect among seniors living in Italy. Methods: The study presents findings [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives Older people with functional limitations find it difficult to age in place alone, without cohabiting with relatives. In light of this, this paper aimed to investigate possible gender differences in this respect among seniors living in Italy. Methods: The study presents findings from the IN-AGE (“Inclusive ageing in place”) study carried out in 2019 in this country assessing the ability of seniors aged 65 years and over to carry out basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs and IADLs), in addition to two mobility limitations (going up/down the stairs and bending to pick up an object) and sensory limitations (hearing and eyesight). Qualitative/semi-structured interviews were administered to 120 older people living in three Italian regions (Lombardy, Marche, and Calabria). Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed by differentiating between genders and among activities carried out autonomously, with help, or not performed (i.e., the senior is “not able”). Possible sources of support were also explored. Results: The main results revealed that cleaning the house, shopping, bathing/showering, and washing the laundry are particularly difficult, with men reporting greater difficulties than women. Moreover, for both genders, the family—especially children—represents the main source of help, in addition to public and private services, but the results differ between males and females. Conclusions: These results can offer insights for policymakers in the development of adequate gender-sensitive policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthcare Strategies for Patients with Chronic Diseases in an Ageing Society: Second Edition)
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Review

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17 pages, 386 KiB  
Review
Patient Experience in Older Adults with Diabetes: A Narrative Review on Interventions to Improve Patient Experience and Research Gaps
by Hidetaka Hamasaki
Healthcare 2024, 12(24), 2530; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12242530 - 13 Dec 2024
Abstract
Patient experience is a critical healthcare quality indicator, evolving from Patient Satisfaction (PS) and encompassing patients’ concrete healthcare experiences. It is increasingly vital in aging societies where collaborative efforts among patients, families, and healthcare professionals are essential. Studies suggest that enhanced patient experience [...] Read more.
Patient experience is a critical healthcare quality indicator, evolving from Patient Satisfaction (PS) and encompassing patients’ concrete healthcare experiences. It is increasingly vital in aging societies where collaborative efforts among patients, families, and healthcare professionals are essential. Studies suggest that enhanced patient experience leads to better adherence, outcomes, and patient safety. This paper reviews patient experience evaluations in older adults with diabetes through randomized controlled trial (RCT)-based findings. The author searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, and CINAHL. The review focused on RCTs examining interventions affecting patient experience and PS in T2D/T1D patients aged ≥65. A total of 13 RCTs were eligible for this review. This review highlights studies on diabetes management in older adults, assessing the impact of health education, diabetes management programs, treatments, mHealth, and advanced insulin delivery systems. Early studies showed that education improved self-care but had a limited impact on glycemic control. Key findings include the effectiveness of experience-based education in improving HbA1c, the benefits of insulin therapy for elderly patients, and the value of structured peer-to-peer diabetes management programs in enhancing satisfaction. Patient adherence, satisfaction, and personalized support emerged as critical factors influencing diabetes management across various interventions. More recent trials involving mHealth demonstrated improvements in glycemic control and PS through automated data sharing and app-based support. Closed-loop insulin delivery studies reported reduced mental strain, improved glycemic control, and better quality of life, despite barriers such as device cost and occasional system limitations. These interventions highlight the potential of advanced technologies to enhance diabetes care, particularly for aging populations. Previous RCTs show that education, structured management programs, effective insulin therapies, and advanced digital treatments improve patient experience, though well-designed studies focusing on patient experience as a primary outcome are lacking. Developing patient experience assessment scales for aging diabetes patients and adapting healthcare systems to maximize patient experience amid digitalization trends are essential, warranting further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthcare Strategies for Patients with Chronic Diseases in an Ageing Society: Second Edition)
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