Litao Zhou - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Litao Zhou

Research paper thumbnail of Rural-Urban Differences in the Long-Term Care of the Disabled Elderly in China

PLoS ONE, 2013

In China, the rapid rate of population aging and changes in the prevalence of disability among el... more In China, the rapid rate of population aging and changes in the prevalence of disability among elderly people could have significant effects on the demand for long-term care. This study aims to describe the urban-rural differences in use and cost of long-term care of the disabled elderly and to explore potential influencing factors. This study uses data from a cross-sectional survey and a qualitative investigation conducted in Zhejiang province in 2012. The participants were 826 individuals over 60 years of age, who had been bedridden or suffered from dementia for more than 6 months. A generalized linear model and two-part regression model were applied to estimate costs, with adjustment of covariates. Pensions provide the main source of income for urban elderly, while the principal income source for rural elderly is their family. Urban residents spend more on all services than do rural residents. Those who are married spend less on daily supplies and formal care than the unmarried do. Age, incapacitation time, comorbidity number, level of income, and bedridden status influence spending on medical care (β=-0.0316, -0.0206, 0.1882, 0.3444, and -0.4281, respectively), but the cost does not increase as the elderly grow older. Urban residents, the married, and those with a higher income level tend to spend more on medical equipment. Urban residence and living status are the two significant factors that affect spending on personal hygiene products. The use of long-term care services varies by living area. Long-term care of the disabled elderly imposes a substantial burden on families. Our study revealed that informal care involves huge opportunity costs to the caregivers. Chinese policy makers need to promote community care and long-term care insurance to relieve the burden of families of disabled elderly, and particular attention should be given to the rural elderly.

Research paper thumbnail of A Comparison of Two Rehabilitation Protocols after Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Controlled, Randomized Study

Journal of International Medical Research, 2009

We report a prospective trial comparing the effectveness of a post-operative flexion regime versu... more We report a prospective trial comparing the effectveness of a post-operative flexion regime versus a standard extension regime on the early outcome and on the post-operative blood loss of total knee arthroplasty. Fourty-eight knees were divided into two different post-operative rehabilitation regimes: a flexion regime and an extension regime. The two groups were well matched with respect to age, gender, operation side and pre-op diagnosis. All patients were implanted with a NexGen cemented total knee prosthesis and all operations were performed by the same surgeon. Patients were assessed pre-operatively, at the time of discharge, at 6 weeks and at 12 weeks, and were evaluated by means of the Knee Society Score (KSS) and the WOMAC score, the Clarkson criteria for range of motion and muscolar Key words Knee arthroplasty • Blood loss • Postoperative flexion together with physiotherapy after TKA for the past two decades [1]. Traditionally, CPM has been administered by moving the knee from full extension through increasing degrees of flexion [2]; this rehabilitation protocol has been shown to be safe and effective in early postoperative rehabilitation, as it increases early ROM , decreases the need for remanipulation and decreases inpatient stay . Moreover, it has not been shown to compromise wound healing or increase fixed flexion deformity ; despite this, CPM is not perfect. Pope et al. showed that CPM increases blood loss and analgesic needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Rural-Urban Differences in the Long-Term Care of the Disabled Elderly in China

PLoS ONE, 2013

In China, the rapid rate of population aging and changes in the prevalence of disability among el... more In China, the rapid rate of population aging and changes in the prevalence of disability among elderly people could have significant effects on the demand for long-term care. This study aims to describe the urban-rural differences in use and cost of long-term care of the disabled elderly and to explore potential influencing factors. This study uses data from a cross-sectional survey and a qualitative investigation conducted in Zhejiang province in 2012. The participants were 826 individuals over 60 years of age, who had been bedridden or suffered from dementia for more than 6 months. A generalized linear model and two-part regression model were applied to estimate costs, with adjustment of covariates. Pensions provide the main source of income for urban elderly, while the principal income source for rural elderly is their family. Urban residents spend more on all services than do rural residents. Those who are married spend less on daily supplies and formal care than the unmarried do. Age, incapacitation time, comorbidity number, level of income, and bedridden status influence spending on medical care (β=-0.0316, -0.0206, 0.1882, 0.3444, and -0.4281, respectively), but the cost does not increase as the elderly grow older. Urban residents, the married, and those with a higher income level tend to spend more on medical equipment. Urban residence and living status are the two significant factors that affect spending on personal hygiene products. The use of long-term care services varies by living area. Long-term care of the disabled elderly imposes a substantial burden on families. Our study revealed that informal care involves huge opportunity costs to the caregivers. Chinese policy makers need to promote community care and long-term care insurance to relieve the burden of families of disabled elderly, and particular attention should be given to the rural elderly.

Research paper thumbnail of A Comparison of Two Rehabilitation Protocols after Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Controlled, Randomized Study

Journal of International Medical Research, 2009

We report a prospective trial comparing the effectveness of a post-operative flexion regime versu... more We report a prospective trial comparing the effectveness of a post-operative flexion regime versus a standard extension regime on the early outcome and on the post-operative blood loss of total knee arthroplasty. Fourty-eight knees were divided into two different post-operative rehabilitation regimes: a flexion regime and an extension regime. The two groups were well matched with respect to age, gender, operation side and pre-op diagnosis. All patients were implanted with a NexGen cemented total knee prosthesis and all operations were performed by the same surgeon. Patients were assessed pre-operatively, at the time of discharge, at 6 weeks and at 12 weeks, and were evaluated by means of the Knee Society Score (KSS) and the WOMAC score, the Clarkson criteria for range of motion and muscolar Key words Knee arthroplasty • Blood loss • Postoperative flexion together with physiotherapy after TKA for the past two decades [1]. Traditionally, CPM has been administered by moving the knee from full extension through increasing degrees of flexion [2]; this rehabilitation protocol has been shown to be safe and effective in early postoperative rehabilitation, as it increases early ROM , decreases the need for remanipulation and decreases inpatient stay . Moreover, it has not been shown to compromise wound healing or increase fixed flexion deformity ; despite this, CPM is not perfect. Pope et al. showed that CPM increases blood loss and analgesic needs.