Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing
Year:2018 | Volume:13 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:12

Objectives: Advanced educational techniques with smartphones help medical staff to control diseases and reduce their complications. Application of communication technologies in health services through changing patients’ behaviors (especially self-care) has had a growing trend in the prevention, treatment, and medical education of different age groups, especially the elderly. The support role of families for the elderly (despite their rising life expectancy) is decreasing mainly due to the generation gap between youth and the elderly, lower number of children, and higher life expectancy of the elderly. The purpose of this paper is to assess and improve the health of the elderly people with m-health (use of mobile telecommunications and wireless multimedia to integrate and develop successful health care delivery systems) and technology.Methods & Materials: The present study is a review study conducted through the search of reputable scientific resources such as Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane, SID, Elsevier, ProQuest as well as advanced search on Google and Google Scholar in 2010-2017. It should be noted that a number of papers used in this study have been systematically reviewed, which would contribute to the comprehensiveness of the research result. A total of 65 papers and research papers were reviewed, of which 31 were used in this study.Results: Findings indicate that the main challenge in using m-health in the elderly is the lack of electronic literacy and phobia of technology. Resolving this problem requires the provision of infrastructures, codes and standards and more research in this area. Cellular technology (what mobile phone networks are based on) can play a key role in controlling the health of older diabetic patients (as an example) and using these technologies in Iran and other countries with acceptable justification can be used as a complementary tool in modern medicine.Conclusion: Mobile care not only is effective in reducing costs by providing easy access to care and its various aspects, it also improves patient’s relationships and care providers as well as increasing self-care effectiveness, especially in old age. Recent advances in mobile technology provide many opportunities for improving the health and well-being of individuals; for example, ability to monitor and rapidly report changes in their health status, education of a healthy lifestyle, quick diagnosis, facilitation in information exchange, and promotion of health care. This technology can be effective in the sense of autonomy and safety of the elderly and it can improve their quality of life. Also, the use of this tool can increase the satisfaction of the elderly and encourage them to continue their treatment and eventually prolong their lives.

Objectives: “Ageing” has created challenges for societies, particularly in developing countries. In this regard, the “Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st century” (RAA-21) has been prepared and published through a joint project of the “United Nations Program on Ageing” and the “International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics.” The University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences is the first university in Iran that has admitted students in Gerontology, and currently has the largest number of students studying the subject of “Ageing.” The current study aims to compare the topics of dissertations on ageing in the University with the priorities of RAA-21, because no similar study has been conducted at the University so far.Methods & Materials: total of 248 dissertations and proposals on “Ageing” were included in this study. The titles were categorized into three levels (priority, research area, and specific topic) with a deductive content analysis approach using RAA-21 guidelines. The results were qualitatively described and compared with RAA-21 priorities.Results: The fourth and fifth priorities of RAA-21 (“healthy ageing” as well as “biology and diseases”) were identified as the most common priorities in the dissertations of both the University and the Gerontology Department (39.9% and 21%, respectively). The second priority of RAA-21 (“material security”) had the least number of dissertations (3.3%). With respect to “research areas,” the highest number of dissertations was conducted in the “physical and mental function” (21.8%) and then “biomedical” and “healthy ageing” (19% each) subcategories. “Macro-societal changes and development” and “poverty” subcategories had the least number of dissertations (0.0% and 0.4%, respectively).Conclusion: distribution of dissertation topics conducted on “Ageing” at the University does not match with the priorities of RAA-21. As a descriptive study cannot present a certain causal relationship, an investigation into the reason for the differences is suggested for further studies. Moreover, it is also useful to prepare the national priorities for research on “Ageing,” using need assessment and RAA-21 as guidelines.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of yoga based on biorhythm theory on the balance and selective attention in the older women.Methods & Materials: A total of 35 older women with mean (SD) age of 61.1 (2.8) year were randomly assigned into three groups: yoga based on biorhythm (n=13); yoga (n=13); control (n=11). Static and dynamic balance tests and Vienna system test were applied to measure the study variables. COG test was used to measure the selective attention. One-way ANOVA test was used to analyze data followed by post-hoc Tukey test.Results: The results suggested that both motor and cognitive performance, including balance and selective attention were improved significantly (P£0.05).Conclusion: Given the physical and mental weakness of elderly women, practicing yoga exercises are highly recommended in the elderly.

Objectives: Early morning exercise is prevalent in Iranian population, and yet no study has assessed its effect on brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effect of early morning exercise on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its relation with cholesterol levels in the elderly males in Khorramabad City, Iran.Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, 13 older men (mean [SD] age: 56.46 [3.93] y; mean [SD] weight 82.46 [8.23] kg; mean [SD] height: 175.46 [5.17] cm) voluntarily participated. In the training day, at first, blood samples were obtained at 07: 30 AM in fasting state. Then, subjects performed training protocol for 50 min duration that included 15 min warm-up, 25 min main activity, and 10 min cool-down, and after three min, subsequent blood samples were obtained. To measure serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, the Brain-Derived Neutrophilic Factor (BDNF) enzymatic and ELISA methods were used, respectively. To analyze the obtained data, paired-samples t test and Pearson correlation were used, and statistical significance was set at P<0.05.Results: Results showed that serum concentration of BDNF (P=0.002) and glucose (P=0.01) increased significantly. Also, there were no significant correlations between serum concentration of BDNF and glucose in both pretest and posttest (P>0.05). However, there were near significant negative correlation between serum concentration of BDNF and cholesterol in pretest (r=-0.53, P=0.061) and significant negative correlation in posttest (r=-0.703, P=0.007).Conclusion: Early morning exercise for approximately 50 minutes increases serum concentration of BDNF and glucose in elderly males. Also, there is no significant positive correlation between them. But, there is significant negative correlation between serum concentration of BDNF and cholesterol. Therefore, early morning exercise for the elderly men is recommended to improve brain health. Also, older men, if they have normal cholesterol levels, will get more benefits from early morning exercise.

Objectives: Elderly People experience feelings of loneliness and isolation which is due to lack of social and emotional skills. Hence, we aimed to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and social skills with psychological well-being in the elderly.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 210 elderly of Tehran City were enrolled using convenient sampling method. They completed Emotional Intelligence Inventory, Social Skill Inventory and Psychological Well-Being Inventory. Data were analyzed using Pearson and Canonical Correlation.Results: Results indicated that components of emotional intelligence and social skills were positive predictors of psychological well-being in elderly. Canonical correlation analysis showed that four fundamental variables are needed to understand the relationships between the set of criterion and predicate variables. Fundamental coefficients for the first four dimension were 0.85, 0.58, 0.45 and 0.31 (P<0.005).Conclusion: Lack of social skills and emotional intelligence are associated with low psychological well-being in elderly. So, training programs for improving these skills in the elderly are recommended.

Objectives: Considering the phenomenon of aging population in societies like Iran, and increasing pressure of caring for elderly people on middle-aged generations, as well as the need to have a regional view to the subject, this study aims to identify psychological distresses in married children who should take care of their elderly parent (s).Methods & Materials: This research was carried out qualitatively by means of phenomenological approach. The study field was the married caregivers of their parent (s) who lived in Qom City, Iran, in 2016. The participants (13 males and females) were selected with purposeful sampling method through referring to the related institutions. Sample size was determined through theoretical saturation. The relevant data were collected using deep interview with the participants, and data analysis was carried out using 7-step method of Colaizzi.Results: The psychological distresses experienced by the participants were categorized into 3 main categories, 7 subcategories, and 39 concepts. The first category contains unpleasant excitements that includes two subcategories of emotions and concerns. The second category embraces the neurotic states, which includes three subcategories: depression, anxiety, and obsession. And the third category embodies conflicts, which covers the two subcategories of role conflict and doubts.Conclusion: The care of the elderly parent (s) for married children who are already involved in several tasks have undesirable psychological outcomes which were identified in this study. The results of this research can be considered as the basis for providing psychological services and counseling to the target population. They can also motivate quantitative and statistical research based on existing findings.

Objectives: In the recent years, the elderly pollution has increased; therefore, the availability of centers that meet their physical and emotional needs has become extremely important. Standardization is one of the approaches to improve the quality of these centers. The purpose of this study was to compare the status of structural standards in nursing homes with international standards.Methods & Materials: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, three nursing homes in Markazi Province were studied in 2017. To investigate the status of structural standards, a researcher-made checklist was used, which consisted of the staff standards, physical environment standards, and equipment standards. The validity of this checklist was confirmed using expert panel and its reliability was confirmed by parallel forms reliability. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 23.Results: Overall, the centers were in moderate situation in terms of structural standards with average score of 83.29% (mean: 674 [out of 810]). The scores of Imam Javad Nursing home, Ebrahimabad Nursing home, and Meisam Nursing home were 88.40%, 88.64%, and 72.84% (mean: 716, 718, and 590), respectively.Conclusion: Considering that the structural condition of nursing homes in Markazi Province is lower than international standards, nursing home officials are recommended to improve the quality of their centers to achieve the levels of international standards, especially structural standards.

Objectives: Proprioception improvement in lower limb joints plays an important role in reducing falling risk in the elderly. Since proprioception improvement in the lower limb joints have the most relevance to better balance in the elderly, this study aimed to investigate the role of ankle and knee joint proprioception on balance improvement in the elderly after an aquatic exercise program.Methods & Materials: total of 30 elderly male (60-70 years old) were randomly selected and classified into intervention and control groups. Postural sway parameters and proprioception acuity were evaluated using the Biodex balance system and photography method, respectively. Then the intervention group participated in an aquatic exercise program for 8 weeks while the control group did not receive any intervention. All subjects were reassessed upon completion of the intervention program and the Pearson correlation test was used for data analysis (P£0.05).Results: The results of this study showed a significant relationship between the changes of the ankle joint proprioception and the postural control ability after conducting the 8 weeks of aquatic exercise program (P<0.05); while the above relationship was not significant in the case of the knee joint (P>0.05).Conclusion: It seems that the improvement in ankle joint proprioception plays a more important role in improving the postural control ability of the elderly compared with the other lower limb joints. Accordingly, it is recommended that the special role of the ankle joint should be more considered in the exercise planning for balance improvement in the elderly.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of sex and different types of attentional focus of supra-postural tasks on postural control learning in older adults.Methods & Materials: A total of 80 older adults (mean [SD] age: 72.5 [4.9] year) participated in this study. The participants, selected according to inclusion criteria, were randomly divided into eight groups of internal and external attentional focus based on supra-postural cognitive and motor task guidelines. The postural status was evaluated by measuring the centre of gravity alignment through a master balancing system (modified clinical test of sensory interaction and balance).Results: The results showed that the men’s older adults with external focus in motor supra-postural task, had a better posture performance than the other groups (P<0.05). Women older adults with internal focus in cognitive supra-postural tasks had the weakest status in postural control function. Men and women also had a better postural control function than the other test groups in external attentional focus.Conclusion: Postural control loss is greater in older women than men according to the impact of focusing attention on postural control. It is possible to improve the balance by planning external focus in supra-postural task programs.

Objectives: This research aimed to investigate the impact of Pilates exercise on motor performance indexes and low back pain of inactive middle-aged women.Methods & Materials: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest and posttest design performed on 43 inactive females with mean (SD) age of 44.4 (5.1) year with low activity, body fat percentage above 35%, and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) of over 0.95. They were assigned into test (n=22) and control (n=21) group. The Pilates or test group did their exercise for 4 months, three times a week while the control group did their daily routines. All body composition variables were measured by body composition analyzer and functional tests were measured by speed and balance tests. Independent and dependent t test were used to analyze the data.Results: The results suggested that dynamic balance and speed improved significantly and those effective factors on motor control such as obesity variables, including Body Mass Index (BMI), WHR, body fat percentage, visceral fat were also improved (P£0.05).Conclusion: It seems that Pilates exercise may improve motor performance indexes and also a better quality of life due to a mitigating low back pain. Therefore, practicing such an exercise program can be effective in older persons.