Public views towards lifespan, healthspan, and Healthy Longevity Medicine in Singapore: a qualitative study from the HEalthy LOngevity (HELO) initiatives.
Belinda Wang, Anna Szücs, Elena Sandalova, Zhi Meng Lim, E J Horberg, Paul A O'Keefe, Louis Island, Sonny Rosenthal, Andrea B Maier
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Healthy Longevity Medicine (HLM) offers a strategy to reduce the healthspan-lifespan gap, yet public perspectives remain unclear. This study refines the HEalthy LOngevity (HELO) framework through a qualitative exploration of public views towards lifespan, healthspan, and HLM.
Methods: Individuals living in Singapore participated in semi-structured group or individual discussions to explore (a) their understanding of lifespan and healthspan, (b) motivational factors for health behaviours, and (c) their awareness of HLM. Sampling maximised variation across age, sex, and ethnicity. Data obtained through 13 discussions were analysed with a mixed, inductive-deductive approach employing the HELO framework.
Results: Thirty-six participants (mean age= 49.4 years, SD=15.9, 19 males, 15 ethnic Chinese) were generally familiar with the definitions of lifespan and healthspan, emphasising the importance of quality of life. Health was defined comprehensively, and autonomy over behaviours was highly valued during ageing and in adopting health behaviours. Community resources and government health initiatives were deemed useful, recognising the potential to enhance social, mental, and physical health. Singapore's busy, achievement-oriented culture was identified as a barrier to healthy behaviours. Participants expressed enthusiasm for HLM's potential to extend healthspan yet voiced concerns about lifestyle changes and potentially losing autonomy.
Conclusion: Personal values and priorities were central to motivations towards healthy longevity. HLM should assess and align diagnostic and treatment plans with individual preferences to support sustainable health behaviours. The Singapore public's alignment with government policies presents an opportunity to promote HLM adoption.
期刊介绍：
In view of the ever-increasing fraction of elderly people, understanding the mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases has become a matter of urgent necessity. ''Gerontology'', the oldest journal in the field, responds to this need by drawing topical contributions from multiple disciplines to support the fundamental goals of extending active life and enhancing its quality. The range of papers is classified into four sections. In the Clinical Section, the aetiology, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of agerelated diseases are discussed from a gerontological rather than a geriatric viewpoint. The Experimental Section contains up-to-date contributions from basic gerontological research. Papers dealing with behavioural development and related topics are placed in the Behavioural Science Section. Basic aspects of regeneration in different experimental biological systems as well as in the context of medical applications are dealt with in a special section that also contains information on technological advances for the elderly. Providing a primary source of high-quality papers covering all aspects of aging in humans and animals, ''Gerontology'' serves as an ideal information tool for all readers interested in the topic of aging from a broad perspective.
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