| 1. |
- Ahorsu, Daniel Kwasi, et al.
(författare)
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The Association Between Health Status and Insomnia, Mental Health, and Preventive Behaviors : The Mediating Role of Fear of COVID-19
- 2020
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Ingår i: Gerontology and geriatric medicine. - : Sage Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This study examined the mediation role of fear of COVID-19 in the association between perceived health status of older adults and their insomnia, mental health, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors so as to have better understanding of the factors associated with COVID-19 and its preventive measures. Methods: A total of 413 older adults with a mean age of 57.72 (SD = 7.31) were recruited for this study. They responded to the measures on fear of COVID-19, insomnia, mental health, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Results: There were small-large significant interrelationships between insomnia, mental health, fear of COVID-19, and preventive behaviors. Fear of COVID-19 significantly mediated the associations between perceived health status and insomnia, mental health, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors. It was also observed that perceived health status directly influenced insomnia and mental health of older adults but not their COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 has an important role to play in the management of the health and preventive behaviors of older adults. Health experts and communicators may capitalize on these findings to educate people on COVID-19. Future studies are needed to perfectly ascertain the extent of fear needed to stimulate or initiate better preventive behaviors and healthcare practices.
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| 2. |
- Christiansen, Line, et al.
(författare)
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Associations Between Mobile Health Technology use and Self-rated Quality of Life : A Cross-sectional Study on Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment
- 2021
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Ingår i: Gerontology and geriatric medicine. - : Sage Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 7, s. 1-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Quality of life (QoL) is affected even at early stages in older adults with cognitive impairment. The use of mobile health (mHealth) technology can offer support in daily life and improve the physical and mental health of older adults. However, a clarification of how mHealth technology can be used to support the QoL of older adults with cognitive impairment is needed. Objective: To investigate factors affecting mHealth technology use in relation to self-rated QoL among older adults with cognitive impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to analyse mHealth technology use and QoL in 1,082 older participants. Baseline data were used from a multi-centered randomized controlled trial including QoL, measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) Scale, as the outcome variable. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. Results: Having moderately or high technical skills in using mHealth technology and using the internet via mHealth technology on a daily or weekly basis was associated with good to excellent QoL in older adults with cognitive impairment. Conclusions: The variation in technical skills and internet use among the participants can be interpreted as an obstacle for mHealth technology to support QoL. © The Author(s) 2021.
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| 3. |
- Chu, Charlene H., et al.
(författare)
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Strengthening International Research in Long-Term Care : Recommended Common Data Elements to Support Clinical Staff Training
- 2021
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Ingår i: Gerontology and geriatric medicine. - : Sage Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study is to develop candidate common data element (CDE) items related to clinical staff training in long-term care (LTC) homes that can be used to enable international comparative research. This paper is part of the WE-THRIVE (Worldwide Elements to Harmonize Research in Long-Term Care Living Environments) group’s initiative which aims to improve international academic collaboration. We followed best practices to develop CDEs by conducting a literature review of clinical staff (i.e., Regulated Nurses, Health Care Aides) training measures, and convening a subgroup of WE-THRIVE experts to review the literature review results to develop suitable CDEs. The international expert panel discussed and critically reflected on the current knowledge gaps from the literature review results. The panel proposed three candidate CDEs which focused on the presence of and the measurement of training. These three proposed CDEs seek to facilitate international research as well as assist in policy and decision-making regarding LTC homes worldwide. This study is a critical first step to develop candidate CDE items to measure staff training internationally. Further work is required to get feedback from other researchers about the proposed CDEs, and assess the feasibility of these CDEs in high and low resourced settings.
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| 4. |
- Edvardsson, David, et al.
(författare)
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Advancing Long-Term Care Science Through Using Common Data Elements : Candidate Measures for Care Outcomes of Personhood, Well-Being, and Quality of Life
- 2019
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Ingår i: Gerontology and geriatric medicine. - : Sage Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To support the development of internationally comparable common data elements (CDEs) that can be used to measure essential aspects of long-term care (LTC) across low-, middle-, and high-income countries, a group of researchers in medicine, nursing, behavioral, and social sciences from 21 different countries have joined forces and launched the Worldwide Elements to Harmonize Research in LTC Living Environments (WE-THRIVE) initiative. This initiative aims to develop a common data infrastructure for international use across the domains of organizational context, workforce and staffing, person-centered care, and care outcomes, as these are critical to LTC quality, experiences, and outcomes. This article reports measurement recommendations for the care outcomes domain, focusing on previously prioritized care outcomes concepts of well-being, quality of life (QoL), and personhood for residents in LTC. Through literature review and expert ranking, we recommend nine measures of well-being, QoL, and personhood, as a basis for developing CDEs for long-term care outcomes across countries. Data in LTC have often included deficit-oriented measures; while important, reductions do not necessarily mean that residents are concurrently experiencing well-being. Enhancing measurement efforts with the inclusion of these positive LTC outcomes across countries would facilitate international LTC research and align with global shifts toward healthy aging and person-centered LTC models.
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| 5. |
- Ganorkar, S, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences of Older Persons in Seeking Care at a Private Hospital in Urban India
- 2020
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Ingår i: Gerontology & geriatric medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 6, s. 2333721420910639-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The study aims to describe the experiences of older persons in seeking health care in a private hospital in urban India. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 older persons admitted in or visiting a private hospital in Hyderabad city in India between the period November 2017 and April 2018. The data were analyzed using Content Analysis. Results: Dimensions related to payment mechanisms, quality of health care staff, and hospital quality were reported to be important for the older persons. Payment mechanisms were related to discounts, insurance support, and reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. Quality of care was related to optimizing hospital operational processes like discharge time, standard of treatment, and trustworthiness of the medical staff. Discussion: Payment mechanism can be made friendly for the older persons. Quality of hospital including its staff can be enhanced by developing geriatric-specific competencies which can help them to understand and treat complex health problems specific for the older population.
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| 6. |
- Hafström, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Improved Balance Confidence and Stability for Elderly After 6 Weeks of a Multimodal Self-Administered Balance-Enhancing Exercise Program : A Randomized Single Arm Crossover Study
- 2016
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Ingår i: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 2, s. 1-13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To develop and assess the efficacy of a multimodal balance-enhancing exercise program (BEEP) designed to be regularly self-administered by community-dwelling elderly. The program aims to promote sensory reweighting, facilitate motor control, improve gaze stabilization, and stimulate continuous improvement by being constantly challenging. Method: Forty participants aged 60 to 80 years performed 6 weeks of BEEP training, on average for 16 min four times weekly, in a randomized one-arm crossover design. Results: One-leg standing time improved 32% with eyes open (EO), 206% with eyes closed (EC) on solid surface, and 54% EO on compliant surface (p < .001). Posturography confirmed balance improvements when perturbed on solid and compliant surfaces with EO and EC (p ≤ .033). Walking, step stool, and Timed Up and Go speeds increased (p ≤ .001), as did scores in Berg Balance and balance confidence scales (p ≤ .018). Discussion: Multimodal balance exercises offer an efficient, cost-effective way to improve balance control and confidence in elderly.
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| 7. |
- Hafström, Anna
(författare)
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Perceived and functional balance control is negatively affected by diminished touch and vibration sensitivity in relatively healthy older adults and elderly
- 2018
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Ingår i: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 4, s. 1-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Severe diminished foot somatosensation, for example, caused by neuropathies and advanced aging, contributes to balance deficits and increased fall risk. However, little is known about somatosensory impairment and functional and subjective balance problems in relatively healthy elderly. Method: Vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) were assessed with a biothesiometer and tactile pressure sensation thresholds (TPSTs) with 20 monofilaments in 34 relatively healthy community-dwelling older adults (M = 69.4 years). Balance was evaluated with functional balance tests and questionnaires. A stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the extent to which VPTs, TPSTs, and age could explain balance impairments. Results: High VPTs had negative effects on Berg Balance Scale and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores (p ≤ .011), as did high TPSTs on walking speed and Figure-8 test (p ≤ .001). With visual information available, one-leg standing time (OLST) was significantly affected by ipsilateral VPTs on solid and TPSTs on compliant surface (p ≤ .002). Without visual information, age was the only factor with a main effect on OLST (p < .001). Age had no significant correlations with TPSTs or VPTs. Discussion: Somatosensation appears to be very important for perceived as well as functional balance control in older adults. Our findings have important clinical implications when assessing balance impairment and impending fall risk.
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| 8. |
- Harschel, Anne K, et al.
(författare)
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Self-rated health among very old people in European countries : An explorative study in Latvia and Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 1, s. 1-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To explore and gain insight into factors related to self-rated health (SRH) among very old people in two European countries. Methods: The study was based on Latvian (n = 301) and Swedish (n = 397) data from the baseline of the Enabling Autonomy, Participation, and Well-Being in Old Age: The Home Environment as a Determinant for Healthy Ageing Survey Study. Besides descriptive statistics, ordinal regression analysis was used to analyze demographic, physical and mental health-related, functional and environmental factors related to SRH in each sample. Results: In both samples, participants with worse perceived physical mobility and more symptoms were significantly more likely to have worse SRH. There were more diverse results regarding other factors in terms of opposite relations to SRH, comparing the two samples. Discussion: Preventive measures and health care should focus on improving and supporting mobility and physical health among older people. Especially in countries with low scores on indicators of health such as Latvia, to minimize health inequalities. More attention should be paid to factors to improve the general health status of the population.
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| 9. |
- Häger, Magdalena, et al.
(författare)
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Meeting the needs of older adults with mental ill-health in non-psychiatric care settings : self-rated confidence in helping and its co-variates within a multiprofessional study sample
- 2023
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Ingår i: Gerontology and geriatric medicine. - : Sage Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper we sought to explore health and social care professionals’ self-rated confidence in helping older adults with mental ill-health in non-psychiatric care settings. A cross-sectional survey study was performed exploring the participants’ (n = 480) confidence in helping. Confidence in helping was analyzed together with background characteristics and selected explanatory variables, such as the workplace and work experience of the participants, their personal experiences of and attitudes to mental ill-health, as well as their knowledge in mental ill-health among older adults, by means of descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. We found that approximately half (55%) of the participants were confident in helping older adults with mental ill-health. The odds ratios for being confident in helping were significantly associated to the workplace of the professionals, professionals’ attitude to and experience of mental ill-health, and knowledge of mental health among older adults. To increase confidence in helping older adults with mental ill-health, we recommend confidence-building interventions, for example, educational programs, through which knowledge of mental health among older adults is increased and negative attitudes are challenged, especially within the context of specialist somatic healthcare.
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| 10. |
- Iwarsson, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
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Understanding User Involvement in Research in Aging and Health
- 2019
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Ingår i: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 2333-7214. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- User involvement in research is advocated as an avenue for efficient societal developments. In this article, we identify potentials, problems, and challenges related to research on aging and health, and identify and illustrate research priorities using an evolving research program as an example. Involving user representatives in the development phase, the UserAge program engages researchers at four universities in Sweden. The program builds upon previous and ongoing research with user involvement. The goals are to maximize the impact of user involvement, enhance the execution of high-quality research, increase the knowledge about what difference user involvement can make, and evaluate the impact of research about and with user involvement. Taken together and communicated in the international scientific community as well as in a wide range of public arenas, the empirical results, capacity-building, and modeling efforts of UserAge will have an impact not only on the present situation but also on the future.
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