scholarly journals The influence of ageism on stereotypical attitudes among allied health students in Japan: a group comparison design

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Fukase ◽  
Naoto Kamide ◽  
Norio Murayama ◽  
Akie Kawamura ◽  
Kanako Ichikura ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ageism is a serious problem in medical care. The importance of ageism-related education for students has been emphasized. To determine the most effective approach to ageism-related education for allied health students, this study examined ageism among this group of students, with the hypothesis that ageism was expressed not only toward elderly adults but also toward individuals other than elderly adults. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 154 allied health students in Japan. The questionnaire involved tree drawings to evaluate the drawer’s personality and a measurement of the participants’ ageism. There were two display conditions for tree drawing. In the elderly display condition, participants were informed that the drawer was an elderly person, and in a control condition, participants were not informed of the drawer’s age. Participants were randomly assigned to each condition and were required to evaluate the drawer’s personality based on 5 personality traits. After the evaluation, all participants were required to complete the Japanese short version of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA-J). Results The participants were 123 allied health students, 61 of whom were in the elderly display condition and 62 of whom were in the control condition. Based on the mean score on the FSA-J (M = 29.80), we divided the participants into a low-FSA-J group (N = 64) and a high-FSA-J group (N = 59). There was no significant difference between the display conditions on the FSA-J score. In the high-FSA-J groups, the control condition evaluated the drawer’s personality as more timid than did the elderly display condition (F = 4.26, df = 1, 119). For negligence, the high-FSA-J group evaluated the drawer’s personality as more negligent than did the low-FSA-J group (F = 4.08). For broad interests, the main effects of condition and groups were significant (F = 4.23). Conclusions The results suggested that ageism indicated a negative evaluation not only of elderly adults but also of individuals other than elderly adults, and students with negative ageism might evaluate the elderly drawer more positively. We have discussed the possibility that negative ageism among allied health students in Japan might underlie these positive stereotypes.

Author(s):  
Vandana Ganganapalli ◽  
Sujatha N. ◽  
Bhaskar Kurre

Background: Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression. With an ageing population, depression among the elderly is likely to increase in the coming years, with higher prevalence among the elderly people than that in the general adult population. This study was intended to know the prevalence of depression and factors associated with depression among elderly people.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice area of Navodaya Medical College, Raichur. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview the elderly person, after taking verbal consent. Depression was assessed using geriatric depression scale (short version). The study duration was from 1st September 2018 – 31st December, 2018 with 360 sample size.Results: Out of 360 elderly people, the prevalence of depression was found to be 31.4 %. The prevalence of depression was more in females 31.9% (63 out of 197). Significant association of depression was noted with age, socio-economic status, marital status, type of family, education and occupation with p<0.05.Conclusions: Around 1/3rd of the study participants were found to be suffering from depression. Depression was significantly associated with age, illiteracy, nuclear family, dependent on family members. Family support to the elderly population may prevent depression.


Author(s):  
Nitesh Mangal ◽  
Dilip Kumar L. ◽  
K. A. Varghese ◽  
Meet Chauhan ◽  
Matariswa Samanta

Background: There is a paradigm shift in the social values towards the elderly people due to urbanization and higher educational linked migration. Consequently, problems like loneliness, lack of emotional support, economic insecurities are faced by the elderly population. The objectives of the study were to assess the socio-economic dimensions and to examine the morbidity and mortality patterns of elderly persons in the study area.Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted among 536 elderly persons from May to August 2019 in an urban area of Udaipur. A pre-structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic details, morbidity profile and socio-economic problems of elderly persons. The data was analyzed using class frequencies, ‘t’ test for equality of gender difference in mortality ages and Chi-square test for association of age class with morbidity.Results: A majority of study subjects were females (52.05%). There was significant difference in proportions of elderly male and female persons across their educational levels. The chi-square test for association of age classes with number of health problems revealed significant association. About 56.34% of 536 elderly people were leading an unsatisfactory life.Conclusions: The major morbidities included arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, cataract, dental problems, cardiovascular problems etc. Financial problems were more severe among elderly. The availability of trained paramedical professionals for home care and day care units and legal bindings on family members for safety and security of elderly person can be effective measures to overcome the problems being faced by them. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivani Kohli ◽  
Aaron Lam Wui Vun ◽  
Christopher Daryl Philip ◽  
Cassamally Muhammad Aadil ◽  
Mahenthiran Ramalingam

Purpose. Falls occur commonly in geriatric populations and undesirably influence their life, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the number of teeth present among the elderly population and covariates in relation to the risk of falls. Materials and Methods. This study was conducted at various old age homes in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia involving the geriatric population aged 60 years and above. A detailed questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data including sex, age, household income, and dental variables such as the number of teeth and chewing difficulty was obtained. The Tinetti test (TT) was used to evaluate the patients’ ability to walk, to maintain postural balance, and to determine their risk of falling. The short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depression among the participants, and the Barthel Scale was used to analyze the subject’s ability to perform the activities of daily living (ADL). Results. Statistically significant association was observed in relation to the number of teeth present and risk of falls (p<0.05). Subjects who had 19 teeth or less in total had moderate to highest risk of falls (p=0.001) in comparison with subjects who had 20 teeth or more. Those aged 70 years and above showed the highest risk of falls (p=0.001) in comparison with the subjects aged between 60 and 69 years. Subjects with depression (p=0.03) and presence of illness related to fall showed statistically significant difference (p=0.001) in comparison with those who did not suffer from the same. Compromised ADL (p=0.001) (which included ability to perform several tasks like indoor mobility, climbing stairs, toilet use, and feeding) and low monthly income (p=0.03) was also observed among subjects who had higher risk of falls. Conclusion. According to the results achieved, there was a high statistically significant association observed between the number of teeth present, age, depression, ADL, and presence of illness in relation to the risk of falling among the geriatric population. Henceforth, oral rehabilitation of elderly patients with less number of teeth may reduce their risk of falls.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 571-574
Author(s):  
Ivanka Stambolova ◽  
Stefan Stambolov

In outpatient care the home care, including hospices, is recognized as a model for providing quality, cost-effective and charitable care. The focus is mainly on the care that helps everyday lifeof the patient as well as the relatives, rather than on treatment, and in most cases it takes place in the patients' home. In Europe, in recent years there has been a real "boom" in home care due to demographic processes linked to increased needs for elderly care and chronically ill under the conditions of limited financial resources.In outpatient medical care in our country by means of a national framework contract there are regulated visits to the patient's home by a doctor, as well as visits by medical staff employed by him - nurse, midwife, medical assistant / paramedic / for manipulation, counseling and monitoring. At the same time there is no regulated legal activity in the Republic of Bulgaria, which is essentially the subject of home care.Since 1994 „Caritas“ has carried out the "Home Care" service, which provides a complex - health and social care for over 360 sick adults in a place where the elderly person feels the most comfortable - in their own home. „Caritas Home Care“ is provided by mobile teams of nurses and social assistants who visit the elderly at home and provide them with the necessary care according to their health and social needs.With the establishment of the first „Home Care Center“ in Lozenets region, Sofia, with the support of the PHARE ACCESS program in 2003, the Bulgarian Red Cross introduces in Bulgaria an integrated model for provision of health care and social services in the home of adults, chronically ill and people with permanent disabilities. To date, there are a number of problems in home care related to the realization of home care for patients in need in out-of-hospital settings: lack of legal regulation for home care, lack of qualified staff in outpatient care; lack of organization and structures for care; unsettled funding and the inability of the part of the population that is most in need of care to pay for it, there is no regulation to control the activity. Although home care began over 20 years ago, our country is yet to make its way to the European program called „Home care in Europe“.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Maria Andreis ◽  
Fernando de Aguiar Lemos ◽  
Lorenna Walesca de Lima Silva ◽  
Cassiana Luiza Pistorello Garcia ◽  
Gabrielli Veras ◽  
...  

Background: A decrease in the physical activity level in old age is common, which results in an increase in the number of falls and chronic conditions. Associated with that occurs the decline in motor skills as a result of the deficit in the interaction of cognitive and motor processes. Physical activity level can be associated differently with each motor domains. Objective: We analyzed the relationship between physical activity level and motor aptitude, and to identify which motor domains were most sensitive to detect insufficiently active level in older adults. Methods: Participated in the study 385 elderly people of both sexes. For the evaluation of the subjects were adopted the International Questionnaire on Physical Activity and the Motor Scale for Older Adults. Results: The majority of the elderly were active. In the comparison of motor aptitude between active and insufficiently active (IAC) elders a significant difference was found in the Global Coordination, Balance, Body Scheme and General Motor Aptitude. From the analysis of the area under the curve (AUC), we verified that these domains also were the ones that presented adequate diagnostic accuracy to identify IAC elderly. Besides that active elderly have presented the General Motor Aptitude classified within normality while the IAC below the normal. Conclusion: Our data suggest that IAC older adults present lower motor aptitude than the active elderly, especially in the domains of Global Coordination, Balance, Body Scheme and General Motor Aptitude, and that these domains were sensitive to indicate IAC older adults.


Author(s):  
Natuya Zhuori ◽  
Yu Cai ◽  
Yan Yan ◽  
Yu Cui ◽  
Minjuan Zhao

As the trend of aging in rural China has intensified, research on the factors affecting the health of the elderly in rural areas has become a hot issue. However, the conclusions of existing studies are inconsistent and even contradictory, making it difficult to form constructive policies with practical value. To explore the reasons for the inconsistent conclusions drawn by relevant research, in this paper we constructed a meta-regression database based on 65 pieces of relevant literature published in the past 25 years. For more valid samples to reduce publication bias, we also set the statistical significance of social support to the health of the elderly in rural areas as a dependent variable. Finally, combined with multi-dimensional social support and its implications for the health of the elderly, meta-regression analysis was carried out on the results of 171 empirical studies. The results show that (1) subjective support rather than objective support can have a significant impact on the health of the elderly in rural areas, and there is no significant difference between other dimensions of social support and objective support; (2) the health status of the elderly in rural areas in samples involving western regions is more sensitive to social support than that in samples not involving the western regions; (3) among the elderly in rural areas, social support for the older male elderly is more likely to improve their health than that for the younger female elderly; and (4) besides this, both data sources and econometric models greatly affect the heterogeneity of the effect of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas, but neither the published year nor the journal is significant. Finally, relevant policies and follow-up studies on the impact of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas are discussed.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1889
Author(s):  
Francisco Luna-Perejón ◽  
Luis Muñoz-Saavedra ◽  
Javier Civit-Masot ◽  
Anton Civit ◽  
Manuel Domínguez-Morales

Falls are one of the leading causes of permanent injury and/or disability among the elderly. When these people live alone, it is convenient that a caregiver or family member visits them periodically. However, these visits do not prevent falls when the elderly person is alone. Furthermore, in exceptional circumstances, such as a pandemic, we must avoid unnecessary mobility. This is why remote monitoring systems are currently on the rise, and several commercial solutions can be found. However, current solutions use devices attached to the waist or wrist, causing discomfort in the people who wear them. The users also tend to forget to wear the devices carried in these positions. Therefore, in order to prevent these problems, the main objective of this work is designing and recollecting a new dataset about falls, falling risks and activities of daily living using an ankle-placed device obtaining a good balance between the different activity types. This dataset will be a useful tool for researchers who want to integrate the fall detector in the footwear. Thus, in this work we design the fall-detection device, study the suitable activities to be collected, collect the dataset from 21 users performing the studied activities and evaluate the quality of the collected dataset. As an additional and secondary study, we implement a simple Deep Learning classifier based on this data to prove the system’s feasibility.


Trauma ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 146040862094972
Author(s):  
Ahmed Fadulelmola ◽  
Rob Gregory ◽  
Gavin Gordon ◽  
Fiona Smith ◽  
Andrew Jennings

Introduction: A novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, has caused a fatal global pandemic which particularly affects the elderly and those with comorbidities. Hip fractures affect elderly populations, necessitate hospital admissions and place this group at particular risk from COVID-19 infection. This study investigates the effect of COVID-19 infection on 30-day hip fracture mortality. Method: Data related to 75 adult hip fractures admitted to two units during March and April 2020 were reviewed. The mean age was 83.5 years (range 65–98 years), and most (53, 70.7%) were women. The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality associated with COVID-19 infection. Results: The COVID-19 infection rate was 26.7% (20 patients), with a significant difference in the 30-day mortality rate in the COVID-19-positive group (10/20, 50%) compared to the COVID-19-negative group (4/55, 7.3%), with mean time to death of 19.8 days (95% confidence interval: 17.0–22.5). The mean time from admission to surgery was 43.1 h and 38.3 h, in COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative groups, respectively. All COVID-19-positive patients had shown symptoms of fever and cough, and all 10 cases who died were hypoxic. Seven (35%) cases had radiological lung findings consistent of viral pneumonitis which resulted in mortality (70% of mortality). 30% ( n = 6) contracted the COVID-19 infection in the community, and 70% ( n = 14) developed symptoms after hospital admission. Conclusion: Hip fractures associated with COVID-19 infection have a high 30-day mortality. COVID-19 testing and chest X-ray for patients presenting with hip fractures help in early planning of high-risk surgeries and allow counselling of the patients and family using realistic prognosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S383-S384
Author(s):  
Fatma Hammami ◽  
Makram Koubaa ◽  
Amal Chakroun ◽  
Fatma Smaoui ◽  
Khaoula Rekik ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Malignant otitis externa is a fatal infection of the external ear and temporal bone. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common causative organism, while fungi are a rare cause of malignant otitis externa. We aimed to compare the clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary features between bacterial and fungal malignant otitis externa. Methods We conducted a retrospective study including all patients hospitalized for malignant otitis externa in the infectious diseases department between 2000 and 2018. Results Overall, we encountered 82 cases of malignant otitis externa, among which there were 54 cases (65.9%) of bacterial malignant otitis externa (BMO) and 28 cases (34.1%) of fungal malignant otitis externa (FMO). The males were predominant among BMO cases (57.4% vs 50%; p=0.5). Patients with FMO were significantly older (70±9 years vs 61±10 years; p&lt; 0.001) and had medical history of diabetes mellitus more frequently (96.4% vs 77.8%; p=0.03). The use of topical corticosteroids was significantly more reported among FMO cases (28.6% vs 5.6%; p=0.006). Otalgia (96.4% vs 81.5%), otorrhea (75% vs 66.7%) and cephalalgia (46.4% vs 42.6%) were the revealing symptoms among FMO and BMO, respectively, with no significant difference. Tenderness to palpation of the mastoid bone (64.3% vs 38.9%; p=0.02) and stenosis of the external auditory canal (92.9% vs 72.2%; p=0.02) were significantly more frequent among FMO cases. Complications were significantly more frequent among FMO cases (42.9% vs 9.3%; p&lt; 0.001). Treatment duration was significantly longer among FMO cases (70[40-90] days vs 45[34-75] days; p=0.03). Conclusion Our study showed that FMO affected more frequently the elderly and diabetic patients, when compared with BMO. Regardless of the causative agent, the clinical presentation was similar. However, the outcome was poor among FMO cases with the occurrence of complications, requiring a longer duration of treatment. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110105
Author(s):  
Türkan Akyol Guner ◽  
Zeynep Erdogan ◽  
Isa Demir

The aim of the study is to determine the effect on death anxiety of loneliness in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of this study that is descriptive and cross-sectional type consist of 354 elderly who meet the inclusion criteria from three different associations operating for charitable purposes in a city center located in north-west Turkey. The average score of Loneliness Scale of Elderly (LSE) of the elderly was determined as 11.39 ± 5.31, and the average score of Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) of the elderly was determined as 8.54 ± 4.82. According to these results, it was found that the elderly experienced acceptable levels of loneliness and moderate death anxiety. A statistically significant difference was found in the LSE and DAS scores of the elderly according to their age, marital status, education status, chronic illness status and living at home with relatives. In addition, during the COVID-19 epidemic, the scale scores of the elderly who have increased worries, who have a hobby at home, and who communicate with their relatives via social media/mobile phones were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document