Everyday Technology Use and Overall Needed Assistance to Function in the Home and Community Among Urban Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 1115-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan J. Walsh ◽  
Jenica Lee ◽  
Ruxandra M. Drasga ◽  
Caniece S. Leggett ◽  
Holly M. Shapnick ◽  
...  

Background: Older adults manage increasing numbers of everyday technologies to participate in home and community activities. Purpose: We investigated how assessing use of everyday technologies enhanced predictions of overall needed assistance among urban older adults. Method: We used a cross-sectional design to analyze responses from 114 participants completing the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. We estimated overall needed assistance based on definitions in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills. We created logistic regression models and receiver operator characteristic curves to analyze variables predicting overall needed assistance. Findings: With high specificity and sensitivity, the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment were the strongest predictors of overall needed assistance. Implications: Assessing everyday technology use enhanced predictions of overall needed assistance among urban older adults.

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-333
Author(s):  
Thaís Malucelli Amatneeks ◽  
Amer Cavalheiro Hamdan

Abstract Introduction Cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. As a complex pathology, at all stages of CKD patients need to have a good understanding of the need for drug and nutritional adherence. Cognitive screening is the starting point for detection of cognitive impairments. Objective To determine the specificity and sensitivity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment – Basic (MoCA-B) for identification of cognitive impairment in the CKD population. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with 163 CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and MoCA-B were administered. Results The MoCA-B has reliable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.74). A cutoff point of ≤ 21 points provides the best sensitivity and specificity for detection of cognitive impairment. The education variable had less impact on the total MoCA-B score than on the total MMSE score. Conclusions The MoCA-B is a suitable screening instrument for evaluating the global cognition of hemodialysis patients. The results can help health professionals to conduct evaluations and plan clinical management.


2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Ntsiea ◽  
H. Van Aswegen ◽  
S. Olorunju

Stroke impacts on a survivor’s ability to participate in community activities such as return to work (RTW) and affects people who are within the working age. There is a dearth of literature on RTW after stroke in developing countries. This study aimed to bridge this gap in South Africa, and was conducted within the Gauteng province as it comprises the largest share of the South African population. Seventy-two stroke survivors participated in this cross-sectional study. A demographic questionnaire; Barthel index; Modified Rivermead mobility index and Montreal cognitive assessment were used to determine the characteristics of study participants. The mean (standard deviation) scores for the Barthel Index (BI), Modified Rivermead mobility index (MRMI) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were 19.6 (±0.2), 39.5 (±0.9) and 25.1 (±4.8) respectively. Thirty-one (43%) of the stroke survivors returned to work at six months after stroke. Stroke survivors with left hemiplegia had a greater chance of RTW than those with right hemiplegia (odds ratio 7.7). For every unit increase in the BI and MoCA score, the likelihood of RTW increased by 1.6 and 1.3 respectively. Conclusion: Side of hemiplegia, independence in activities of daily living and cognitive ability were found to be predictors of RTW at six months after stroke. It is important to identify people with cognitive impairments after stroke so that efforts can be made to increase awareness of the potential role that cognitive impairments may play in RTW.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089198872110026
Author(s):  
Sivan Klil-Drori ◽  
Natalie Phillips ◽  
Alita Fernandez ◽  
Shelley Solomon ◽  
Adi J. Klil-Drori ◽  
...  

Objective: Compare a telephone version and full version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective study. A 20-point telephone version of MoCA (Tele-MoCA) was compared to the Full-MoCA and Mini Mental State Examination. Results: Total of 140 participants enrolled. Mean scores for language were significantly lower with Tele-MoCA than with Full-MoCA (P = .003). Mean Tele-MoCA scores were significantly higher for participants with over 12 years of education (P < .001). Cutoff score of 17 for the Tele-MoCA yielded good specificity (82.2%) and negative predictive value (84.4%), while sensitivity was low (18.2%). Conclusions: Remote screening of cognition with a 20-point Tele-MoCA is as specific for defining normal cognition as the Full-MoCA. This study shows that telephone evaluation is adequate for virtual cognitive screening. Our sample did not allow accurate assessment of sensitivity for Tele-MoCA in detecting MCI or dementia. Further studies with representative populations are needed to establish sensitivity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 230949901986867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alasdair JA Santini ◽  
Chetan A Jakaraddi ◽  
Fotis Polydoros ◽  
Sree Metikala

Postoperative urinary retention necessitating catheterization after major lower limb arthroplasty surgery adds to the patients’ postoperative discomfort and increases the risk of urinary tract infection with potential risk of transient bacteraemia and seeding of infection to prosthetic joints. Preoperative evaluation of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms may help to identify at-risk patients and the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) has been used as a screening tool to quantify the severity of symptoms in males. A prospective cohort of 303 patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty was evaluated using the IPSS. Patients were categorized into three symptom groups (mild, moderate and severe based on scores of 0–7, 8–18 and greater than 18, respectively) and four age groups (<50 years, 51–60 years, 61–70 years and greater than 70 years). Twenty-six patients (8.6%) developed urinary retention and were catheterized postoperatively; of these, 16 were male and 10 were female. Statistical analysis using logistic regression models showed significant association between severe IPSS scores (>18) and urinary retention requiring catheterization in both males and females with both high specificity and sensitivity in the test in predicting postoperative catheterization. Hence, this test is a valid preoperative screen in predicting postoperative catheterization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-114
Author(s):  
Anu Meena ◽  
Amit Kyal ◽  
Partha Mukhopadhyay ◽  
Pragati Sharma

Aims: To correlation of AMH with clinical, hormonal and ultrasound findings; and determine the role of AMH as prognostic marker. Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study on women attending Gynaecology outpatient department of Medial College and Hospital, Kolkata, from January 2018 to June 2019. Study comprised of 70 newly diagnosed cases of PCOS using Rotterdam criteria 2003. Clinical history included menstrual complaint, hirsutism and weight gain; examination included BMI and Ferriman-Gallwey score; and investigations included FBS, 2hr PPBS, TSH, Prolactin, total testosterone, LH, AMH level and pelvic USG before starting intervention and same parameters were rechecked after 3 months of treatment completion. Results: A total of 70 PCOS patients were included in a study conducted within 1 year time period. The most common Phenotype in our study is Phenotype A (O+H+P) which was almost 85.71%, followed by Phenotype B (O+H) 7.14% and the least we got Phenotype C (H+P) that is 2.86%. There was statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in AMH level following treatment of PCOS (before treatment mean AMH level was 9.634.42 and after treatment the level was 5.812.77). Conclusions: The most frequent PCOS phenotype in Indian women is A (O+H+P). Therapy in PCOS women with raised AMH reduces the AMH levels. Measurement of serum AMH provides a high specificity and sensitivity by which it can act as a prognostic marker for PCOS.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen R. Haase ◽  
Theodore Cosco ◽  
Lucy Kervin ◽  
Indira Riadi ◽  
Megan E. O'Connell

BACKGROUND Technology has become the most critical approach to maintain social connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults (over age 65) are perceived as most physiologically vulnerable to COVID-19 and at risk of secondary mental health challenges related to social isolation imposed by virus containment strategies. To mitigate concerns regarding sampling bias we used a random sampling of older adults to understand uptake and acceptance of technologies to support socialization during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE To conduct a random population-based assessment of the barriers and facilitators to engaging in technology use for virtual socialization amongst older adults in the Canadian province of British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional population-based survey using random-digit dialing to participants over age 65 living in British Columbia. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with open-text responses analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Respondents included 400 older adults with an average age of 72 years old and 63.7% female. Most respondents (89.5%) were aware of how to use technology to connect with others and slightly more than half (56%) reported using technology differently to connect with others during the pandemic. 55.9% of respondents reported adopting new technology since the beginning of the pandemic. Older adults reported key barriers to using technology including: (1) lack of access (including finance, knowledge, and age); (2) lack of interest (including a preference for telephone, and a general lack of interest in computers); and (3) physical barriers (resultant of cognitive impairments, stroke, and arthritis). Older adults reported numerous facilitators, including: (1) knowledge of technologies (whether self-taught or via external courses); (2) reliance on others (family, friends, and general internet searching); (3) technology accessibility (including environments, user-friendly technology, and receiving clear instructions); and (4) social motivation (because everyone else is doing it). CONCLUSIONS Much data on older adults use of technology is limited by sampling biases, but the current study that used random sampling demonstrated that older adults used technology to mitigate social isolation during the pandemic. Virtual socialization is most promising to mitigate potential mental health effects related to virus containment strategies. Addressing barriers by mobilizing telephone training and task lists, and mobilizing facilitators described by participants such as facilitated socialization activities are important strategies that can be implemented within and beyond the pandemic to bolster the mental health needs of older adults.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Szymon Nowak ◽  
Janusz Smigielski

Purpose.To determine the prevalence of age-related eye diseases and cataract surgery among older adults in the city of Lodz, in central Poland.Material and Methods.The study design was cross-sectional and observational study. A total of 1107 women and men of predominantly Caucasian origin were successfully enumerated and recruited for the study. All selected subjects were interviewed and underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations.Results.Overall 8.04% (95% CI 6.44–9.64) subjects had cataract surgery in either eye. After excluding subjects with bilateral cataract surgery, the prevalence of cataract was 12.10% (95% CI 10.18–14.03). AMD was found in 4.33% (95% CI 3.14–5.54 ) of all subjects. Of them 3.25% (95% CI 2.21–4.30 ) had early AMD and 1.08% (95% CI 0.47–1.69) had late AMD. Various types of glaucoma were diagnosed in 5.51% (95% CI 4.17–6.85) of subjects and 2.62% (95% CI 1.68–3.56) had OHT. The prevalence rates of DR and myopic macular degeneration were 1.72% (95% CI 0.95–2.48) and 0.45% (95% CI 0.06–0.85), respectively. All multiple logistic regression models were only significantly associated with older age. The highest rate of visual impairment was observed among subjects with retinal diseases.Conclusions.The study revealed high prevalence of age-related eye diseases in this older population.


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