scholarly journals Older Adults Who Experience Their Lives to Be Completed and No Longer Worth Living: A Systematic Mini-Review Into Used Terminology, Definitions, and Interpretations

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith E. Appel ◽  
Els J. van Wijngaarden

In the Netherlands and in Belgium, a political debate emerged regarding the possibility of euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS) for older adults who experience their lives as completed and no longer worth living, despite being relatively healthy. This mini-review aimed to (1) present an overview of the terms used to denote this phenomenon as well as their definitions and to (2) explore how the underlying experiences are interpreted by the study authors. A systematic search was performed in Web of Science, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, yielding 35 articles meeting the selection criteria. We selected empirical, English-language articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Participants had to have a first-person experience of the phenomenon or be assessed for it, or have a third-person experience of the phenomenon. Results show that the terms tiredness of life (ToL) and weariness of life (WoL) were used most frequently, also in the broader literature on suicidal expressions across the life span. Many studies mentioned operational definitions or synonyms rather than theoretical definitions. Moreover, inside the EAS debate, the term ToL was more common, its definition incorporated death wishes, and it was regularly framed existentially. Outside of this debate, the phenomenon was generally considered as a part of suicidal ideation distinct from death wishes, and its experience was often associated with underlying psychopathology. We discuss the need to establish consensus definitions and conclude that only a multidimensional view may be suitable to capture the complex nature of the phenomenon.

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483802110302
Author(s):  
Briohny Kennedy ◽  
Lyndal Bugeja ◽  
Jake Olivier ◽  
Marilyn Johnson ◽  
Phuong Hua ◽  
...  

Background: Empirical research investigating older adult homicide is sparse and rarely accumulated for greater insights. This systematic review and meta-analysis quantifies the prevalence and characteristics of homicide victimization among older adults (65 years and older) compared with younger adults (18–64 years). Method: We searched Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published before December 31, 2018 (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration: CRD42017054536). Included were English-language, original, peer-reviewed studies describing the homicide of older adults. Excluded were studies not meeting age criteria, residence as an institution, or with insufficient outcome variables. The review included 39 studies; 17 were included in the meta-analysis. Data were extracted via open access or from study authors. Heterogeneity was assessed through study-level random effects estimates. Results: Pooled homicide rates per 100,000 population were 2.02 (95% CI [1.23, 3.33]) for older adults ( n = 35,325) and 3.98 (95% CI [2.42, 6.53]) for younger adults ( n = 607,224; rate ratio = .51, 95% CI [0.37, 0.70], p < .001). Proportion estimates for older adults: victim female 46.3%, location home 71.4%, offender familiar 25.2%, compared to stranger, 24.2%, motive argument 36.1%, compared to felony 30.8%, and weapon firearm 24.5%. Older adults were significantly different to younger adult victims ( p = <.001) for female ( OR = 2.5, 95% CI [2.02, 3.10]), home (3.87, 95% CI [3.45, 4.35]), stranger (1.81, 95% CI [1.66, 1.98]), argument (0.33, 95% CI [0.28, 0.39]), felony (2.78, 95% CI [2.58, 2.99]), and firearm (0.38, 95% CI [0.36, 0.40]). Conclusions: Homicide against older adults differs from younger adults and warrants specific research and tailored prevention strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris D. Hartog ◽  
Margot L. Zomers ◽  
Ghislaine J. M. W. van Thiel ◽  
Carlo Leget ◽  
Alfred P. E. Sachs ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Some older persons develop a persistent death wish without being severely ill, often referred to as “completed life” or “tiredness of life”. In the Netherlands and Belgium, the question whether these persons should have legal options for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EAS) is intensely debated. Our main aim was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of older adults with a persistent death wish without severe illness, as the lack of this knowledge is a crucial problem in de debate. Methods We conducted a survey among a representative sample of 32,477 Dutch citizens aged 55+, comprising questions about health, existential issues and the nature of the death wish. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the group with a persistent death wish and no severe illness (PDW-NSI) and several subgroups. Results A total of 21,294 respondents completed the questionnaire (response rate 65.6%). We identified 267 respondents (1.25%) as having a persistent death wish and no severe illness (PDW-NSI). PDW-NSI did not only occur among the oldest old. Although qualifying themselves as “not severely ill”, those with PDW-NSI reported considerable health problems. A substantial minority of the PDW-NSI-group reported having had a death wish their whole lives. Within the group PDW-NSI 155 (0.73%) respondents had an active death wish, of which 36 (0.17% of the total response) reported a wish to actually end their lives. Thus, a death wish did not always equal a wish to actually end one’s life. Moreover, the death wishes were often ambiguous. For example, almost half of the PDW-NSI-group (49.1%) indicated finding life worthwhile at this moment. Conclusions The identified characteristics challenge the dominant “completed life” or “tiredness of life” image of healthy persons over the age of 75 who, overseeing their lives, reasonably decide they would prefer to die. The results also show that death wishes without severe illness are often ambiguous and do not necessarily signify a wish to end one’s life. It is of great importance to acknowledge these nuances and variety in the debate and in clinical practice, to be able to adequately recognize the persons involved and tailor to their needs.


2021 ◽  
pp. 152483802098556
Author(s):  
Mark A. Wood ◽  
Stuart Ross ◽  
Diana Johns

In the last decade, an array of smartphone apps have been designed to prevent crime, violence, and abuse. The evidence base of these apps has, however, yet to analyzed systematically. To rectify this, the aims of this review were (1) to establish the extent, range, and nature of research into smartphone apps with a primary crime prevention function; (2) to locate gaps in the primary crime prevention app literature; and (3) to develop a typology of primary crime prevention apps. Employing a scoping review methodology and following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, studies were identified via Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar. We included English-language research published between 2008 and 2020 that examined smartphone applications designed explicitly for primary crime prevention. Sixty-one publications met our criteria for review, out of an initial sample of 151 identified. Our review identified six types of crime prevention app examined in these publications: self-surveillance apps, decision aid apps, child-tracking apps, educational apps, crime-mapping/alert apps, and crime reporting apps. The findings of our review indicate that most of these forms of primary crime prevention apps have yet to be rigorously evaluated and many are not evidence-based in their design. Consequently, our review indicates that recent enthusiasm over primary crime prevention apps is not supported by an adequate evidence base.


Author(s):  
Diego Urrunaga-Pastor ◽  
Diego Chambergo-Michilot ◽  
Fernando M. Runzer-Colmenares ◽  
Josmel Pacheco-Mendoza ◽  
Vicente A. Benites-Zapata

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Dementia is a chronic disease with a variable prevalence throughout the world; however, this could be higher at high-altitude populations. We aimed to summarize the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults living at high altitude. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We searched in PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase and included the studies published from inception to July 20, 2020, with no language restriction, which reported the frequency of cognitive impairment or dementia in older adults living at high-altitude populations. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate the overall prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of cognitive impairment and dementia. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) adapted for cross-sectional studies. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Six studies were included (3,724 participants), and 5 of the 6 included studies were carried out in Latin America. The altitude ranged from 1,783 to 3,847 m, the proportion of women included varied from 38.7 to 65.6%, and the proportion of participants with elementary or illiterate educational level ranged from 71.7 to 97.6%. The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was 22.0% (95% CI: 8–40, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup>: 99%), and the overall prevalence of dementia was 11.0% (95% CI: 6–17, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup>: 92%). In a subgroup analysis according to the instrument used to evaluate cognitive impairment, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 21.0% (95% CI: 5–42, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup>: 99%) in the MMSE group while the prevalence was 29.0% (95% CI: 0–78) in the non-MMSE group. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults living at high altitude is almost twice the number reported in some world regions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 319-338
Author(s):  
Sergii Iermakov ◽  
Tetiana Yermakova ◽  
Krzysztof Wnorowski ◽  
Abdelkrim Bensbaa

Background and Study Aim. The inclusion of beach volleyball in the program of the Olympic Games gave some impetus to the development of scientific research on various problems of training athletes. Most of the research results are presented in journals included in the Web of Science Core Collection. However, the publication of research results in journals from national databases remains outside the scope of this database. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scientific literature on various beach volleyball issues in Russian-language scientific resources. Material and Methods. The sources of information were the authoritative database Web of Science Core Collection, Russian Science Citation Index, Scientific Electronic Library eLIBRARY.RU (Russia), National Repositary of Academic Texts (Ukraine). Data extraction from these databases was carried out using the keywords “volleyball” / “beach”. A total of 1,875 documents were found for the keyword “volleyball”. Of these, the keyword “beach” - 273 documents. Further analysis was carried out on 273 documents. The search query results were recorded in the form of tables and a special text file, which were processed in the VOSviewer 1.6.17 program. Results. The most significant and more popular subject categories, journals, authors, articles, keywords have been identified. The relationship between keywords and individual groups of publications has been established. A method for extracting data from the Scientific Electronic Library eLIBRARY.RU in a semiautomatic mode is presented. The trends in the development of beach volleyball in various aspects of the training of elite athletes and the sports reserve, the health-improving function of beach volleyball for youth are shown. Conclusions. Differences in the content of research between Russian-language and English-language resources are a good complement to each other. This fact may contribute to solving the problems of beach volleyball and international cooperation of researchers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
pp. 182-192
Author(s):  
Tatiana V. Basanova

Developing ethnocultural competence by teaching a foreign language is considered to be a contribution to ethnic identity development that is the aim of ethnic socialization process. The present article describes the content of the English language teaching in the process of ethnocultural competence development. Thematic and procedural aspects are distinguished. Each one has a complex nature and contributes to profound considering ethnic related information by Kalmyk students at high school.


Rev Rene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. e61443
Author(s):  
Josefa Fernanda Evangelista de Lacerda ◽  
Paula Suene Pereira dos Santos ◽  
Evanira Rodrigues Maia ◽  
Dayanne Rakelly de Oliveira ◽  
Maria Corina Amaral Viana ◽  
...  

Objective: to analyze the use of elements of effective nurse-patient communication in the light of the Transcultural Interprofessional Practice model. Methods: an integrative literature review was carried out in the CINAHL, LILACS, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases, without a time limit. Results: 12 studies were analyzed, most of them published in the English language, in 2017. Two categories were elaborated: effective verbal and non-verbal communication between nurses and patients. The elements of effective verbal communication were presented as speech and language; non-verbal ones presented as signals, distance, eye contact, time, touch, listening, empathy, and patience. Technology-assisted communication was part of both. Less frequently, the verbal communication process was hindered by language and non-verbal communication due to a lack of time availability. Conclusion: effective communication favors the establishment of trust, interaction, and the nurse-patient relationship.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samah Alfuriji ◽  
Nora Alhazmi ◽  
Nasir Alhamlan ◽  
Ali Al-Ehaideb ◽  
Moatazbellah Alruwaithi ◽  
...  

Objectives.This review aims to evaluate the effect of orthodontic therapy on periodontal health.Data.Original articles that reported on the effect of orthodontic therapy on periodontal health were included. The reference lists of potentially relevant review articles were also sought.Sources.A literature search was conducted using the databases, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases for relevant studies. The search was carried out by using a combined text and the MeSH search strategies: using the key words in different combinations: “periodontal disease,” “orthodontics” and “root resorption.” This was supplemented by hand-searching in peer-reviewed journals and cross-referenced with the articles accessed. Articles published only in English language were included. Letters to the Editor, historical reviews and unpublished articles were not sought.Conclusions.Within the limitations of the present literature review, it was observed that there is a very close inter-relationship between the periodontal health and the outcome of orthodontic therapy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marton Demeter

In this research, we analyzed all 79 Web of Science (WoS) indexed journals in communication and media studies to disclose main publication patterns. We found that English-language countries dominate the field in a greater extent than in other disciplines, and developing countries are in a weaker position than English-language developed countries not just in natural sciences but also in soft sciences. We found significant correlations between the nominal GDP, the per capita publication, and per capita GDP of a given country and its publication scores.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quyen T. Vo ◽  
Dennis F. Thompson

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on drug-induced thrombocytosis with the goal of critically assessing causality and providing a comprehensive review of the topic. Thrombopoietic growth factors, such as thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (romiplostim and eltrombopag) and erythropoietin are not included in our review. Data Sources: The literature search included published articles limited to the English language and humans in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. MEDLINE/PubMed (1966 to September 2018) was searched using the MeSH terms thrombocytosis/chemically-induced and thrombocytosis/etiology. EMBASE (1980 to September 2018) was searched using the EMTAGS thrombocytosis/side effect. Web of Science (1970 to September 2018) was searched using the search term thrombocytosis. References of all relevant articles were reviewed for additional citations and information. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Review articles, clinical trials, background data, case series, and case reports of drug-induced thrombocytosis were collected, and case reports were assessed for causality using a modified Naranjo nomogram. Data Synthesis: Drug-induced thrombocytosis, a form of reactive thrombocytosis cannot be easily differentiated from more common etiologies of reactive thrombocytosis. In all, 43 case reports of drug-induced thrombocytosis from a wide variety of drugs and drug classes were reviewed using a modified Naranjo probability scale that included criteria specific for thrombocytosis. Conclusions: Drug-induced thrombocytosis is a relatively rare adverse drug reaction. The strongest evidence of causality supports low-molecular-weight heparins and neonatal drug withdrawal. Weaker evidence exists for all-trans retinoic acid, antibiotics, clozapine, epinephrine, gemcitabine, and vinca alkaloids.


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