Dignity and attitudes to aging: A cross-sectional study of older adults

Background: Dignity is a multidimensional construct that includes perception, knowledge, and emotions related to competence or respect. Attitudes to aging are a comprehensive personal view of the experience of aging over the course of life, which can be influenced by various factors, such as the levels of health and self-sufficiency and social, psychological, or demographic factors. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes to aging of home-dwelling and inpatient older adults, and whether dignity and other selected factors belong among the predictors influencing attitudes to aging in these two different groups of older adults. Research design: Cross-sectional study using a set of questionnaires: Patient Dignity Inventory, Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire, and Barthel Index. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses and multivariable linear regression were used for statistical processing. Participants and research context: 233 inpatients and 237 home-dwelling older adults participated in the research in two regions of the Czech Republic. Ethical considerations: Institutional Review Board approval was received from the authors’ university. Findings: The inpatients had more negative attitudes to aging (M = 74.9±10.9; P <0.0001). The predictors of their attitudes to aging were gender and dignity. Women ( β = −2.969, P = 0.045) and inpatients with poor dignity ratings ( β = −0.332, P <0.0001) had more negative attitudes to aging. The predictors for home-dwelling older adults were education, living arrangement, and dignity. More negative attitudes to aging were found in older adults with lower levels of education ( β = 2.716, P = 0.007) who lived alone ( β = 2.163, P = 0.046) and rated their dignity as low ( β = −0.325, P <0.0001). Discussion and Conclusions: The results of this study add to the understanding that a sense of dignity is an important predictor of attitudes to aging for both home-dwelling older adults and inpatients.

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The Association between Sleep Quality and Loneliness in Rural Elderly Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shandong, China

10.21203/rs.2.13462/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Gaizhen Jia ◽

Ping Yuan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Rural Elderly ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rural Older Adults

Abstract Background There is evidence for negative associations between loneliness and sleep quality in older adults. However, little is known regarding the relationship between loneliness and sleep quality among Chinese rural elderly. This study examined the associations of loneliness and sleep quality in a cross-sectional study of older adults. Methods A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among 1568 rural elderly people in Shandong, China. Loneliness was assessed using the Univesity of California at Los Angels loneliness scale. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Ordinal logistic regression were conducted to examine the association of loneliness and sleep quality after adjusting for multiple confounding variables. Results After controlling for age, marriage, education, occupation, economic income, family relationships, living arrangement, smoking, drinking, chronic diseases, quality of life such as variables in multivariable analysis, Poor sleep quality still predicted loneliness in rural elderly. Conclusion This finding implied an adverse effect of sleep quality on the loneliness of older adults. Poor sleep quality was associated with increased odds of loneliness in Chinese rural older adults. Sleep-based interventions should be developed to prevent loneliness in rural older adults in China.

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The Association between Sleep Quality and Loneliness in Rural Older Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shandong Province, China.

10.21203/rs.2.13462/v4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gaizhen Jia ◽

Ping Yuan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Shandong Province ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rural Older Adults

Abstract Background: There is a evidence of negative association between loneliness and sleep quality in older adults. However, little is known regarding the relationship between loneliness and sleep quality among Chinese rural older adults. This study examined the associations of loneliness and sleep quality in a cross-sectional study of older adults. Methods: A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among 1658 rural older adults in Shandong Province, China. Loneliness was assessed using the University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to examine the association of loneliness and sleep quality after adjustment for multiple confounding variables. Results: After variables such as age, marriage, education, occupation, economic income, family relationships, living arrangement, smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, chronic disease experience, and quality of life were controlled in a multivariable analysis, poor sleep quality was still associated with loneliness in the rural older population. Conclusion: This finding implied an adverse effect of sleep quality on the loneliness of older adults. Poor sleep quality was associated with increased odds of loneliness in Chinese rural older adults. Sleep-based interventions should be developed to prevent loneliness in rural older adults in China.

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assessing knowledge, attitude and practices of miners and post-occupational miners towards pneumoconiosis in Wusakile Township, Kitwe, Zambia:cross sectional study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.16851 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Banda

Keyword(s):

Negative Attitude ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

P Value ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Poor Knowledge ◽

Mining Areas

BACKGROUND Occupational conditions are deadly health hazards especially where dust exposure is inevitable causing chronic disabilities, impaired respiratory function and ultimately leading to death if no intensive measures are put in place. Unhealthy practices and negative attitudes rise in the number of cases of pneumoconiosis due to poor health education and awareness strategies. Pneumoconiosis is not only a health problem but also a social and economic burden on the livelihood of people living in mining areas around the globe. OBJECTIVE to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of miners and post-occupational miners towards pneumoconiosis in Wusakile Township, Kitwe, Zambia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was employed to conduct a research in Wusakile Township and a questionnaire was customized in order to syphon data relevant to the study as well to be brief. The study was conducted among 73 participants who were randomly selected among miners and post-occupational miners and all satisfied the inclusion criteria. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data. The data was entered and analysed using IBM SPSS software version 23. RESULTS Among 73 participants interviewed, 33.99% of participants had poor knowledge on the complications of pneumoconiosis. However, despite this poor knowledge, all participants had an idea about pneumoconiosis particularly silicosis. 13.70% of the respondents had bad practices towards pneumoconiosis while 86.30% had some good practices towards pneumoconiosis. Of the total participants, 19.18% of the participants had a negative attitude towards pneumoconiosis. Correlation between the level of education and practices of participants using Pearson Chi-Square, a p value of 0.021 (significant) was found ruling out the null hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS Information about pneumoconiosis and awareness programs towards pneumoconiosis are not widely disseminated among miners and post-occupational miners. There is still a significant number of participants who need to be educated more about pneumoconiosis and its complications so that attitude and practices are improved and also promote full community participation by involving competent health professionals to help in implementing preventive measures.

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Usability of a tablet computer designed for older adults: a qualitative approach based on an intra-hospital living-lab for healthcare (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25186 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guillaume Sacco ◽

Pauline Carliez ◽

Frédéric Noublanche ◽

Romain Simon ◽

Anne Renaudin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Geriatric Patients ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Satisfaction Score ◽

Tablet Computer ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

System Usability Scale ◽

Perceived Usability

BACKGROUND Usability is the keystone in the evolution of tablet technology in healthcare. The Ardoiz® tablet has been designed with a simplified interface for older adults. OBJECTIVE To assess the perceived usability and satisfaction of the Ardoiz® tablet. METHODS We conducted a mixed methods with cross-sectional study using System Usability Scale (SUS), satisfaction score and workshops, including geriatric patients, healthcare professional and caregivers. RESULTS Between September 25, 2019 and March 11, 2020, 58 participants were included in a cross-sectional study (including 38 patients, mean ±SD 85±6 years, 66% women), 26 in workshops (including 5 patients, mean ±SD 86.4±2.9, 40% women). The SUS was 74±12/100, the satisfaction score was 2.8±0.9/4, with 59% of satisfied participants with the use of Ardoiz® pads. The intent to acquire remained low with 18% (n=6) of participants who would be interested in acquiring the tablet. This tablet computer seemed to be difficult to use by geriatric patients and healthcare professionals, mainly because of its complex homepage. Nevertheless, former caregivers and healthcare professionals thought that the tablet could be of great interest to hospitals for leisure and medical use. The main feedback in order to improve the tablet is to simplify the home page with fewer and more static icons (without switching). CONCLUSIONS Notwithstanding the usability of the tablet, the intent to acquire of Ardoiz® tablet remained low. The interface should be simplified for older adults in order to improve usability and adherence. CLINICALTRIAL NCT04091152

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