scholarly journals Innovative Strategies to Reach Diverse Elders: Using Age-Tastic to Improve Health and Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 374-375
Author(s):  
Jacquelin Berman ◽  
Manoj Pardasani ◽  
Madison Gates ◽  
Mebane Powell

Abstract This session will present the findings of a randomized control trial evaluating the impact Age-Tastic has on behavioral change. Age-Tastic is an eight-week intervention that uses game play, group facilitated discussion, and at home activities to promote positive behavioral change. There are five behavioral change domains: emotional well-being, nutrition, financial exploitation, falls prevention, and health literacy. A randomized control trial was conducted in New York City senior centers and include a diverse group of older adults. There were 98 older adults assigned to an experimental or control group. Participants in both groups completed a baseline survey, which was repeated at the end of the intervention and at week sixteen. The experimental (n = 64) and control (n = 34) groups did not significantly differ at baseline in regard to behaviors; however, upon completion of the intervention, the experimental group had significantly changed health behaviors (p < .05) compared to the control group. The behavior change reported by the experimental group was maintained at week sixteen (p < .001) with a medium effect size (ε2 = .17). In addition the experimental group also reported significant improvements at weeks eight (p < .001) and sixteen (p < .001) with large effect sizes (r2 = .62 and .52, respectively). This study found that Age-Tastic is an effective intervention for engaging older adults holistically about their health and wellness and for promoting positive behavioral change among diverse racial and ethnic populations.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 497-497
Author(s):  
Manoj Pardasani ◽  
Jacquelin Berman ◽  
Mebane Powell ◽  
Madison Gates

Abstract Age-Tastic! is a holistic intervention that enhances the well-being, health and safety of older adults. Most evidence-based interventions aimed at older adults have focused on singular aspects of health such as cognitive health, falls prevention, depression, advanced care planning, etc. There are few interventions that encompass a holistic approach to health and safety. Age-tastic! is one such intervention that encompasses various aspects of health – social support, financial well-being, physical safety, mental health, health care management, and nutrition. Designed as a competitive board game to entice older adults, this intervention integrates concepts of cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation and game theory to educate, motivate and encourage healthful behaviors. At the core of this intervention is a focus on increasing awareness of health and safety issues, improving health literacy and changing harmful behaviors. A randomized control trial was conducted with 98 older adults assigned to an experimental and control group. Interviews were conducted at baseline, right after the intervention ended (8 weeks) and again after a short time (8 weeks after intervention ended). The results showed significant increases among experimental group participants in knowledge of healthy behaviors (p=0.05), perception of self-efficacy for engaging in healthful behaviors (p<0.001) and engagement in health behaviors (p=0.001). Regression analyses demonstrated that greater knowledge and self-efficacy were associated with behavioral change within the intervention group (p<0.001). Knowledge about the importance of preventing falls and communication with medical providers was positively correlated with the corresponding behavioral change (p<0.05). Implications for health literacy among older adults will be shared.


Healthcare ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Pardasani ◽  
Jackie Berman ◽  
Mebane Powell

Background: Raising awareness of holistic health and safety among older adults is critical to enhancing their wellbeing in many cases, improving health outcomes and motivating positive behavioral changes. Age-Tastic! is a comprehensive health and safety promotion intervention that uses the concept of a competitive board game to entice older adults to participate and stay engaged. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Age-Tastic! on the level of awareness, health literacy, self-efficacy and positive behavioral change among the participants. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted with 98 older adults assigned to an experimental and control group. Interviews were conducted at baseline, right after the eight-week intervention ended and again eight weeks after the end of the intervention. Results: The results showed significant increases among experimental group participants in knowledge about health, self-efficacy and behavioral change in the areas of nutrition, financial exploitation, health literacy and emotional well-being. Discussion: Implications for replication and engagement are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 28-31
Author(s):  
Urja S. Vaidya ◽  
Roshani S. Patel

Background: Sciatica is a radiating pain which is treated with manual accupressure and after a time electro accupressure came into introduction. Aim And Objective: Aim: To nd out the effectiveness of accupressure pen to improve the distance variable To nd out the effect of Objective: accupressure pen on pain and distance variable in sciatica patient To compare the experimental group to the control group On the basis of Method: inclusion and exclusion criteria 30 participants were selected. They were treated with electro accupressure pen for 3 alternative days / week for 3 weeks, after that re-assessment was taken with NPRS, Slump and Distance variables. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version Results: 21.Parametric test was used .In Group A improvement was seen Accupressure Conclusions: pen is effective to reduce pain and improve step length and stride length in Sciatica Patients


Author(s):  
Kmendalin Nongspung ◽  
Kavita Narang ◽  
J. S. Thakur

Background: Hypertension is the most common non-communicable diseases. Strict adherence to prescribed antihypertensive treatments is the key to blood pressure control. The present study was conducted with the objective to develop, implement and assess an interventional package on treatment adherence for hypertensive patients.Methods: A clustered randomized control trial of 3 months conducted in two community sites of Chandigarh. The two sites were first randomized by lottery method as experimental and control sites. Total of 250 subjects (n=125 on each sites) were selected by a systematic random sampling technique (every fourth) from the sampling frame. Diagnosed hypertensive patients taking treatment were included in the study and females with pregnancy induced hypertension were excluded. Participants were interviewed as per Interview schedule. Data was collected from July to November 2018. Interventional package was in the form of booklet and flash card, delivered as one to one teachings. Total of 5 face to face follow ups were done to the experimental group. Control group received routine care. Final evaluation was done at 3rd month in both the groups to assess the effectiveness of an interventional package on treatment adherence. Data analysis and interpretation was done by using chi square, paired t test, unpaired t- test, Mc Nemar test were applied to determine the level of significance at p<0.05.Results: The proportion of subjects who were adhered to the treatment has increased from 16% to 68% in the experimental group at third month of follow up. The mean change in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were 26.29±12.81 mmHg and 7.74±8.95 mmHg respectively in the experimental group as compared to the control group (p<0.05).Conclusions: The interventional package on treatment adherence among hypertensive patients was effective in improving the treatment adherence.


Author(s):  
Mohibullah Khan ◽  
Alamgir Khan ◽  
Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Butt ◽  
Badar Mohy ud Din ◽  
Abdul Manan ◽  
...  

Purpose: The main purpose of the study was to examine the impact of moderate intensity exercise on blood serum creatinine concentration among the male. Method & Materials: A randomized control trails were conducted for purpose to evaluate the effects of moderate intensity exercise on creatinine level among the subjects (Experimental Group (EG) = 10, Control group (CG). A written informed consent from all the subjects and ethical approval was taken from Gomal University Ethical Review Committee before initiating the study protocols. 5ml blood were taken from all the subjects and each blood sample was marked with separate identification code. Twelve weeks exercise (moderate intensity exercise) protocols was employed on the selected subjects. The collected blood samples were tested and thus the collected results were processed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Version, 24) by applying Mean and Standard deviation etc. Results & Conclusion: On the basis of analysis, the researcher concluded that inferentially there is no significant effect of moderate intensity exercise on BMI and Creatinine of the subjects but descriptively the experimental group shows better results in BMI and Creatinine (after the treatment)


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-61
Author(s):  
Sara Mičič ◽  
Marina Horvat ◽  
Karin Bakracevic

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine whether Working Memory (WM) training improves the cognitive functioning of older adults and to determine the role of cognitive reserve in WM training. Method: Twenty-one older adults, aged between 65 and 91 years were included in the study. Ten of them were in the experimental group and 11 in the passive control group. The experimental group underwent 15 training sessions of n-back training over a period of five weeks, whereas the control group remained passive. All participants (from the experimental and control group) were tested before the training, one week after the training, and three months after the training with Rey– Osterrieth/Taylor Complex Figure test (ROCF), Digit span, and TMT (part A and part B). Results and Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that although the experimental group slightly improved their performance on the trained task, the progress was not statistically significant. There was also no statistically significant transfer of training effects onto tasks of visual-spatial and verbal memory, as well as those related to executive functioning. However, the study did identify a statistically significant correlation between cognitive reserve and certain tests performed at the final testing: tasks measuring executive functioning and spatial ability. Results also revealed that the group that showed improvement in the training task was significantly better in the ROCF test in comparison with the group that had not improved their performance on the N-back task. Thus, visual-spatial abilities (visual perception, construction, and memory) were more connected with success in WM training, than other measured cognitive abilities (e.g. verbal and numerical memory).


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Vogler ◽  
Lily O'Hara ◽  
Jane Gregg ◽  
Fiona Burnell

Background: With the current challenge of rapidly aging populations, practices such as yoga may help older adults stay physically active, healthy, and fulfilled. Methods: The impact of an 8-week Iyengar yoga program on the holistic health and well-being of physically inactive people aged 55 years and over was assessed. Thirty-eight older adults (mean age 73.21 ± 8.38 years; 19 intervention, 19 control) engaged in either twice-weekly yoga classes or continued their usual daily routines. Physical health measures were muscle strength, active range of motion, respiratory function (FEV1), resting blood pressure, and immune function (salivary IgA and lysozyme). Self-perceived general,physical, mental, spiritual, and social health and well-being were assessed with the Life's Odyssey Questionnaire and the SF12v2™ Health Survey. Results: Muscle strength, active range of motion, physical well-being, and aspects of mental well-being (emotional well-being and self-care) improved significantly in the yoga group (p &lt; .05). Median changes in most of these variables were also significantly different from those in the control group. Conclusions:Participation in Iyengar yoga programs by older people is beneficial for health and well-being, and greater availability of such programs could improve quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 995-1005
Author(s):  
Wen Xu ◽  
◽  
Itagi R Kumar ◽  
Thaiyar M Srinivasan

Background/Objectives: The foundational ethical principles of yoga have not been of focus and not widely known. This study was to evaluate the yoga ethics that could reduce the level of stress in college students. Methods/Statisticalanalysis :A randomized control trial was conducted. One hundred participants were randomly assigned to control group and experiment group with a duration of three months intervention and one month follow-up. The outcome measures of stress level were assessed through Bio-Well instrument. A parametric independent sample t-test for the between-group analyses and paired sample t-test for within-group analysis compared the means of two groups. Findings: There was a statistically significant reduction in the stress after the intervention (p<0.001) and follow up (p=0.035) between the group comparisons. The within-group comparisons showed high reduced in the level of stress after the intervention (p<0.001) and follow-up (p<0.01). Novelty: The current study provides preliminary evidence that the practice of ethical principles of Yama and Niyama effectively reduces the stress and may improve psychological health and well-being. Keywords: Yoga ethics; Yama; Niyama; Stress; Psychological wellbeing; BioWell


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Kiran Mahendru ◽  
Anuja Pandit ◽  
Vishwajeet Singh ◽  
Nandan Choudhary ◽  
Anant Mohan ◽  
...  

Objectives: The corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected every domain of human health be it physical or mental. The uncertainty of disease progression in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to major psychological and psychiatric concerns that should not be overlooked. The interventions should be directed to the vulnerable population to help them mitigate the stress and anxiety caused by the infection and isolation. We evaluated the effect of meditation and breathing exercises on the well-being of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection under institutional isolation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized control trial on 84 subjects, 18 years and above, asymptomatic, or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected patients under institutional isolation. Subjects were randomly and equally divided into a control group and interventional group. We measured the depression, anxiety, and stress levels as well as quality of sleep in patients after 7 days of meditation and breathing exercises in the intervention group versus standard care in the control group. Results: Mediation and breathing exercises had a statistically significant effect on the depression level (P < 0.001), stress level (P = 0.004), and the quality of sleep [trouble falling asleep (P = 0.007), trouble staying asleep (P = 0.004), and feel tired after waking up in the morning (P = 0.003)]. Further, the positive effect of intervention on the level of anxiety in patients under isolation was also observed; however, the difference was not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.528). Conclusion: Meditation and breathing exercises have positive effects on depression, stress levels, and quality of sleep in COVID-19 positive patients under strict institutional isolation.


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