Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing
Year:2010 | Volume:4 | Issue:14|Papers Count:10

Objective: The main goal of this study is to determine the effect of cognitive group counseling on the anxiety and depression factors in female senior citizens staying at nursing homes.Materials and Methods: The method used in this pilot study is the pre-test and post -test with a control group and the statistical society in this study consists of all the elder women staying at Madar Nursing Home in Sabzevar. The sample was selected randomly from the society under study. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was primarily administered and then. scores higher than six for anxiety and depression factors were identified and a number of 30 subjects were selected randomly. Next, they were placed in two groups consisting of 15 subjects (subject group and control group).Results: The analysis of the results was performed using the covariance analysis. It indicates that cognitive group counseling significantly results in reducing depression and anxiety.Conclusion: Cognitive group counseling has a positive effect on reducing anxiety and depression. Refresher courses for the staff and nurses working in the nursing homes can serve as a supplementary treatment along with pharmaceutical treatment.

Objective: The aim of the study was to achieve the health status of the Iranian elderly migrants in Australia.Materials and Methods: This study was done as a cross sectional survey carried out in 2005-2007 on 302 Iranian immigrant aged 65 years and over who had lived in Sydney Metropolitan area for at least 6 months.Results: The majority of the Iranian elderly had a moderate level of anxiety and depression (44%) and more than half of them (58%) were experiencing average level of psychological wellbeing. From aspect of physical function (41%) Iranian elderly had moderate level of physical function as well as without limitation. With respect to daily living activity, the great part of the elderly participants (56%) were independent. The predictor variables. of Socio-demographic and acculturation were strong significant variables in physical and mental health status of the Iranian elderly.Conclusion: Chronic medical conditions, Physical and social activity, and also accessing information and awareness of aged care services predicted both mental and physical health status of Iranian elderly respondents in this study (P£0.001).

Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine the depression status of the elderly and it's related factors.Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional study. Sample unit was based on the elderly of Isfahan city in 2007. 248 elderly aged 60 and older (125 men and 123 women) were selected randomly according to clusters related to the families that are under coverage of Isfahan University of Medical Science and it’s in provincial health centers of health deputy throughout the province. Depression status of them was evaluated by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire which was standardized for the Iranian population. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between depression status and demographic factors.Results: From 125 elderly men and 123 elderly women, 121 (96.8%) elderly men and 110 (89.4%) elderly women were in age group of 60-74 years and 4 (3.2%) elderly men and 13 (10.6%) elderly women were in age group of 75 years and over. 36.3% of elderly people didn't have depression and 63.7% were suffering depression (40.7% moderate depression and 23% severe depression). Low education level (diploma and lower) (OR=2.14, CI0.95: 1/05-4.39) was a risk factor for developing moderate depression but female sex (OR=0/42, CI0.95: 0.2-0.85), and having alive spouse / husband and living with her/him (OR=0.44, CI0.95: 0.19-1.001) had protective role in developing moderate depression. living with spouse / husband (OR=0.34, CI0.95: 0.14-0.85) had a protective role in developing severe depression, too.Conclusion: According to high prevalence of depression among elderly and important role of living alone in developing it, applying some intervention such as symptoms of depression for early detection and early treatment of disease (early intervention) and provision of cultural backgrounds and attitudes for remarriage of elderly people is necessary.

Objective: This study was done to assess the some factors which influence on fruit and vegetable consumption among Iranian's elderly.Materials and Methods: This study was a cross sectional study which was done on 400 elderly people through a two stages sampling method. 10 elderly centers were selected from all of elderly centers in Tehran. During second stage, a systematic random sampling method was used. Data was collected using multi sectional questionnaire (Knowledge, perceived benefits and barriers, stage of readiness, daily servings of fruit and vegetable in meals, social support). One-way analysis of variance and regression analysis were used to analysis the data.Results: Fruit and vegetable intake among participations was 1.75±1.12 servings/ day. There was no difference between men and women regarding the fruit and vegetable consumption (P>0.05). Our findings showed economic problems were the major barrier for fruit and vegetable intake and accessibility to sellers was the major farilitator. Regression analysis indicated that, a higher fruit and vegetable consumption was significantly associated with higher knowledge, safe life style, self-efficacy and lower perceived barriers. Elderly people in more advanced stages of change of attitudes and health knowledge and safe life style were more likely to consume suitable amounts of fruits and vegetables in their diets.Conclusion: There are several factors which effect on fruit and vegetable consumption in Iranian's elderlies' diet.Identifying these factors could help health educators to design effective interventions.

Objective: This study was designed to assess nutritional and biochemical factor of magnesium in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.Materials AND Methodes: The population of this analytical cross-sectional study, was 60 postmenopausal osteoporotic women, referred to rheumateology clinic of Tabriz. Nutritional intake was determined by 3 day food recall and food frequency questionnaire.individual and clinical information by questionnaire and weight and height of subjects were measured by scale. Serum magnesium concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using analytical and descriptive statistical methods.Results: Mean age of women were 58.85 years old .Mean of energy and protein intake from diet was 1876 kcal, 53.3 g/day, respectively.The mean intake of magnesium from diet was 120 mg/day that was significantly lower than recommended dietary allowance (P<0.05) (37% RDA). Mean of magnesium serum concentration in this patients was 0.7±0.01 mmol/L that was in less normal ranges. The correlation between magnesium intake and age was significantly negative.Conclusion: Base on this study finding, magnesium status in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis was not siutable considering the significant correlation between magnesium intake and bone mineral density and important role of magnesium on bone metabolism, nutritional education to intake magnesium rich foods, is suggested for maintanence of bone density.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine barriers and motivators of physical activity in older adults.Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study 153 older adults were participated through classified randomized clustering method. The questionnaires were completed in face to face interview. Descriptive statistics and U Mann Whitney test were used to analyzing data.Results: Main motivators of physical activity were: independence, self-efficiency, prevention of fatigue, purchasing, sense of authority and necessity of exercise for elderly that all of them are health related factors.Main barriers were chronic disease, handicap and pain. Men show higher grade in recreational, physical environment and social factor as motivator (P value in orderly 0.000, 0.003 and 0.022). Women have greater barrier in health related factor and social environment (P value in orderly 0.000 and 0.022).Conclusion: Based on our findings, the best way for extension of physical activity is introducing their effect on physical, mental and cognitive health.For reducing barriers the most important plan is presenting elderly specific exercise programs with experts.

Objective: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability in older adults.In current study, the effects of three types of orthoses on pain reduction were evaluated in OA patients in Iran.Materials and Methods: In this prospective clinical trial, thirty six patients consisting of II men and 25 women with age (Mean±SD) of 54.56±2.82 years and diagnosis of mild to moderate knee OA included. Patients were assigned to three groups of neoprene sleeve, unloader knee brace, and insole with lateral heel wedge each with twelve members. Their pain evaluated using visual analog scale before orthotic treatment and again six months after orthotic treatment. The results of each group compared together using paired t statistics.Results: There was a significant difference in knee pain in all three groups before and after orthotic treatment (P<0.05). Percent of pain reduction was 40.909%, 40.186% and 32.493% in neoprene sleeve, unloader knee brace, and insole with lateral heel wedge, respectively.Conclusion: It seems that neoprene sleeve by keeping the knee joint temperature, decreases pain. In group with unloader knee brace, probably the brace alters thigh and calf alignments during walking and causes pain reduction. In insole with lateral heel wedge group, it seems that insole by altering the orientation of calcaneus to valgus, reduces pain. Future studies with more participants and with consideration of longer follow-up in addition to measure knee and calcaneus displacements are recommended.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life and its dimensions among the elderly people who were living at homes, private or public nursing homes of the city of Tehran.Materials and methods: This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 96 aged people in three groups of living at homes, in private and public nursing homes in the city of Tehran, whom were selected according to the research criteria. Data were collected using Demographic and LEIPAD quality of life questionnaires. Kolmogorove-smimov, One way ANOVA, Independent T-test, Kruskal-wallis, and X2 were used for analyzing data.Results: The score of quality of life of the elderly living at theirhomes (65.57) was significantly higher than the score of subjects living in private (50.64) and public nursing homes (51.30). There was a significant difference in the score of dimensi9ns of physical and social functioning and life satisfaction as well as self-care of elderly people living at homes and the elderly living in private and public nursing homes (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the "quality of life" score of male and female elderly in all three groups of the research.Conclusion: The elderly people living at homes have a better quality of life in comparison with their peers living in private and public nursing homes in the city of Tehran.