scholarly journals Video-Based Communication and Its Association with Loneliness, Mental Health and Quality of Life among Older People during the COVID-19 Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6284
Author(s):  
Tore Bonsaksen ◽  
Hilde Thygesen ◽  
Janni Leung ◽  
Mary Ruffolo ◽  
Mariyana Schoultz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Communication Tools ◽  
Study Results

The aim of the study was to examine the use of video-based communication and its association with loneliness, mental health and quality of life in older adults (60–69 years versus 70+ years) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, UK, USA and Australia during April/May 2020, and 836 participants in the relevant age groups were included in the analysis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between the use of video-based communication tools and loneliness, mental health and quality of life within age groups, while adjusting by sociodemographic variables. Video-based communication tools were found to be more often used among participants aged 60–69 years (60.1%), compared to participants aged 70 or above (51.8%, p < 0.05). Adjusting for all variables, the use of video-based communication was associated with less loneliness (β = −0.12, p < 0.01) and higher quality of life (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) among participants aged 60–69 years, while no associations were observed for participants in the oldest age group. The use of video-based communication tools was therefore associated with favorable psychological outcomes among participants in their sixties, but not among participants in the oldest age group. The study results support the notion that age may influence the association between the use of video-based communication tools and psychological outcomes amongst older people.

scholarly journals Video-Based Communication and its Association with Loneliness, Mental Health and Quality of Life among Older People during the COVID-19 Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tore Bonsaksen ◽  
Hilde Thygesen ◽  
Janni Leung ◽  
Mary C. Ruffolo ◽  
Mariyana Schoultz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Communication Tools ◽  
Study Results

The aim of the study was to examine the use of video-based communication and its association with loneliness, mental health and quality of life in older adults (60-69 years versus 70+ years) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, UK, USA and Australia during April/May 2020, and 836 participants in the relevant age groups were included in the analysis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between use of video-based communication tools and loneliness, mental health and quality of life within age groups, while adjusting by sociodemographic variables. Video-based communication tools were found to be more often used among participants aged 60-69 years (60.1%), compared to participants aged 70 or above (51.8%, p &lt; 0.05). Adjusting for all variables, use of video-based communication was associated with less loneliness (&beta; = -0.12, p &lt; 0.01) and higher quality of life (&beta; = 0.14, p &lt; 0.01) among participants aged 60-69 years, while no associations occurred for participants in the oldest age group. The use of video-based communication tools was therefore associated with favorable psychological outcomes among participants in their sixties, but not among participants in the oldest age group. The study results support the notion that age may influence the association between use of video-based communication tools and psychological outcomes amongst older people.

Neuro-enhancement among German junior physicians: Prevalence, reasons and associations to mental health outcomes and quality of life

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-293
Author(s):  
Stefanie Mache ◽  
Monika Bernburg ◽  
David Groneberg ◽  
Volker Harth
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Workload Management ◽  
Study Results

BACKGROUND: Previous research studies have demonstrated that neuro-enhancement, the use of legal or illegal drugs by healthy individuals to improve their job performance, is practiced among employees. Researchers discussed possible reasons for employees to consider the use of substances for neuro-enhancement. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of usage and motives for practicing neuro-enhancement among a sample of German junior physicians. The secondary objective was to determine associations between neuro-enhancement, mental health outcomes and quality of life. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included an online survey to analyze junior physicians’ neuro-enhancement stimulant use and their motives for usage (n = 873). Second, mental health outcomes and quality of life were assessed. Descriptive and analytic (Kruskal Wallis test, logistic regression) statistics were obtained. RESULTS: Of the 873 junior physicians, 18% reported having used stimulants for neuro- enhancement. 8% of the physicians have taken prescription stimulants (e.g. modafinil) or illicit drugs (e.g. cannabis) at least once in their lifetime. The most common reasons for taking stimulants were to enhance concentration, to relax and to increase alertness. Neuro-enhancement was associated with emotional exhaustion (p < 0.01), lower quality of life (p < 0.05) and work-related stress (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study results give an overview on the actual situation regarding frequency and motives for taking performance-enhancing substances. The prevalence rate was low in comparison to current public debates. Decreasing the prevalence of neuro-enhancement among physicians requires the implementation of strategies targeting stress reduction and workload management.

scholarly journals The immediate and longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of older adults in England

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Zaninotto ◽  
Eleonora Iob ◽  
Panayotes Demakakos ◽  
Andrew Steptoe
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
June July

Objective To evaluate changes in mental health and wellbeing before and during the initial and later phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate whether patterns varied with age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Design Prospective cohort study. Participants English Longitudinal Study of Ageing cohort of 5146 community dwelling adults aged 52 years and older (53% women, average age 66.74 years, standard deviation 10.62) who provided data before the pandemic (2018-19) and at two occasions in 2020 (June-July and November-December). Main outcome measure Depression, poor quality of life, loneliness and anxiety. Results: The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms increased from 12.5% pre-pandemic to 22.6% in June-July 2020, with a further rise to 28.5% in November-December. This was accompanied by increased loneliness and deterioration in quality of life. The prevalence of anxiety rose from 9.4% to 10.9% between June-July and November-December 2022. Women and non-partnered people experienced worse changes in mental health and wellbeing. Participants with less wealth had lowest levels of mental health before and during the pandemic. Higher socioeconomic groups had better mental health overall, but responded to the pandemic with more negative changes. Patterns of changes were similar across age groups, the only exception was for depression which showed a smaller increase in the 75+ age group than in the youngest age group (50-59 years). Conclusions These data showed that mental health and wellbeing continued to worsen as lockdown continued, and that socioeconomic inequalities persisted. Women and non-partnered people experienced greater deterioration in all mental health outcomes. The immediate provision of diagnosis of mental health problems and targeted psychological interventions should target and support sociodemographic groups of older people at higher risk of psychological distress.

scholarly journals Attitudes About COVID-19 and Health: A Mixed-Methods Smartphone-App and Online Survey Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Hood ◽  
Hanne Stotesbury ◽  
Jennifer Murphy ◽  
Melanie Kölbel ◽  
April Slee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Monthly Survey

BACKGROUND Behavioral mitigation strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in sweeping lifestyle changes, with short and long-term psychological, well-being, and quality of life implications. The Attitudes About COVID-19 and Health (ATTACH) study focuses on understanding attitudes and beliefs whilst considering the impact on mental and physical health and the influence of broader demographic and geographic factors on attitudes, beliefs, and mental health burden. OBJECTIVE In this assessment of our first wave of data collection, we provide baseline cohort descriptives of ATTACH study participants in the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), and Mexico. Additionally, we assess responses to daily poll questions related to COVID-19 and conduct a cross-sectional analysis of baseline assessments collected in the UK between June 26 and October 31, 2020. METHODS The ATTACH study uses smartphone-app technology and online survey data collection. Participants completed poll questions twice daily related to COVID-19 and a monthly survey assessing mental health, social isolation, physical health, and quality of life. Poll question responses were graphed using 95% Clopper-Pearson (exact) tests with 95% confidence intervals. Pearson correlations, hierarchical linear regression analyses, and generalized linear models assessed relationships, predictors of self-reported outcomes, and group differences, respectively. RESULTS By October 31, 2020, 1405, 80, and 90 participants had consented to participate in the UK, USA, and Mexico, respectively. Descriptive data for the UK daily poll questions indicated that participants were generally following social distancing measures, but worry and negative impacts on families increased as the pandemic progressed. Although participants generally reported feeling that the reasons for current measures had been made clear, there was low trust that the government was doing everything in its power to meet public needs. In the UK, 1282 participants also completed a monthly survey (95% white, 72% female, 21% key or essential workers). Nineteen percent of UK participants reported a pre-existing mental health disorder, 31% reported a pre-existing chronic medical illness, and 35% were over 65. Fifty-seven percent of participants reported being more sedentary since the pandemic began, and 41% reported reduced access to medical care. Those with poorer mental health outcomes lived in more deprived neighborhoods, in larger households (ps < .05), had more pre-existing mental health disorders and medical conditions, and were younger than 65 years (all ps < .001). CONCLUSIONS Communities who have been exposed to additional harm during the COVID-19 pandemic were experiencing worse mental outcomes. Factors including having a medical condition, or living in a deprived neighborhood or larger household were associated with heightened risk. Future longitudinal studies should investigate the link between COVID-19 exposure, mental health, and sociodemographic and residential characteristics.

A Comparison between Independently Living Elderly Individuals and Residents in 25 German Nursing Homes Following the Group-Living Principle

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon A ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Older People ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Subjective Quality ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Subjective Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly Individuals

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyses the subjective Quality of Life (QoL) perceived by older people in German nursing homes following the group-living principle. Methods: The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), a health-related QoL measuring instrument, was employed in 25 nursing homes (n=404 participants). A comparison with a national German representative subsample of independently living elderly individuals (age group over 75) was conducted. Psychometric properties and appropriateness were analyzed. Results: Our findings indicate an acceptable perception of residents’ QoL. The mean NHP scale scores show that except for the NHP subscale physical ability, the perceived QoL of residents in group-living nursing homes reached nearly the same level as that of independently living elderly individuals (national German reference values, age group over 75 years). QoL-related results on life satisfaction and feeling of happiness confirm the NHP findings. The protocol from a preliminary pilot study could be replicated according to good scientific practice. Conclusions and Implications: The report presents the first major investigation in the field of subjective quality of life in group-living nursing homes. The study focused on people over 75 years of age with age-specific reduced physical and mental abilities. The NHP should also be considered a reliable, valid and appropriate instrument for older people. Due to the lack of research on residents’ perspectives, further studies should establish age-specific and care setting specific reference data for nursing home residents. In particular, more research is needed to answer the question of which care setting best meets people’s essential needs in older age.

scholarly journals Community ageing research 75+ study (CARE75+): an experimental ageing and frailty research cohort

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e026744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Heaven ◽  
Lesley Brown ◽  
John Young ◽  
Elizabeth Teale ◽  
Rebecca Hawkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Science Studies ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Ageing Research ◽  
Study Results

IntroductionThe Community Ageing Research 75+ Study (CARE75+) is a longitudinal cohort study collecting an extensive range of health, social and economic data, with a focus on frailty, independence and quality of life in older age. CARE75+ is the first international experimental frailty research cohort designed using Trial within Cohorts (TwiCs) methodology, to align applied epidemiological research with clinical trial evaluation of interventions to improve the health and well-being of older people living with frailty.Methods and analysisProspective cohort study using a TwiCs design. One thousand community-dwelling older people (≥75 years) will be recruited from UK general practices. Nursing home residents, those with an estimated life expectancy of 3 months or less and people receiving palliative care will be excluded. Data collection assessments will be face to face in the person’s home at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months and 48 months, including assessments of frailty, cognition, mood, health-related quality of life, comorbidity, medications, resilience, loneliness, pain and self-efficacy. A modified protocol for follow-up by telephone or web based will be offered at 6 months. Consent will be sought for data linkage and invitations to additional studies, including intervention studies using the TwiCs design. A blood sample biobank will be established for future basic science studies.Ethics and disseminationCARE75+ was approved by the NRES Committee Yorkshire and the Humber—Bradford Leeds 10 October 2014 (14/YH/1120). Formal written consent is sought if an individual is willing to participate and has capacity to provide informed consent. Consultee assent is sought if an individual lacks capacity.Study results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed scientific journals and scientific conferences. Key study results will be summarised and disseminated to all study participants via newsletters, local older people’s publications and local engagement events. Results will be reported on a bespoke CARE75+ website.Trial registration numberISRCTN16588124;Results stage

Effect of interventions using physical activity trackers on physical activity in people aged 60 years and over: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (20) ◽  
pp. 1188-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana S Oliveira ◽  
Cathie Sherrington ◽  
Elizabeth R Y Zheng ◽  
Marcia Rodrigues Franco ◽  
Anne Tiedemann
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older People ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundOlder people are at high risk of physical inactivity. Activity trackers can facilitate physical activity. We aimed to investigate the effect of interventions using activity trackers on physical activity, mobility, quality of life and mental health among people aged 60+ years.MethodsFor this systematic review, we searched eight databases, including MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL from inception to April 2018. Randomised controlled trials of interventions that used activity trackers to promote physical activity among people aged 60+ years were included in the analyses. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42017065250.ResultsWe identified 23 eligible trials. Interventions using activity trackers had a moderate effect on physical activity (23 studies; standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.55; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.70; I2=86%) and increased steps/day by 1558 (95% CI 1099 to 2018 steps/day; I2=92%) compared with usual care, no intervention and wait-list control. Longer duration activity tracker-based interventions were more effective than short duration interventions (18 studies, SMD=0.70; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.93 vs 5 studies, SMD=0.14; 95% CI −0.26 to 0.54, p for comparison=0.02). Interventions that used activity trackers improved mobility (three studies; SMD=0.61; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.90; I2=10%), but not quality of life (nine studies; SMD=0.09; 95% CI −0.07 to 0.25; I2=45%). Only one trial included mental health outcomes and it reported similar effects of the activity tracker intervention compared with control.ConclusionsInterventions using activity trackers improve physical activity levels and mobility among older people compared with control. However, the impact of activity tracker interventions on quality of life, and mental health is unknown.

scholarly journals Major depressive disorder in different age groups and quality of life

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umme Salma Talukder ◽  
MM Jalal Uddin ◽  
Niaz Mohammad Khan ◽  
Md Mostarshid Billah ◽  
Tufayel Ahmed Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a significant public health problem due to its impact on the quality of life. The aim of the study was to determine the presentation of depression in different age group and quality of life among the respondents. This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted from May, 2012 to February, 2013 among 65 patients aged 18 to 65 years with major depressive disorder in both outpatient and inpatient departments of National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Dhaka by using convenient sampling technique. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Text version (DSM-IV-TR), Beck Depression Inventory and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to diagnose depressive disorder, to measure severity of depressive illness and Quality of Life (QOL) respectively. Level of depression was compared with the QOL. Quality of life deteriorated in patients with depression. Presence and level of depression was compared in different age groups of depressed patients. The results showed that most of the depressed people (17) were found in the age group of 21-25 years and most of the patients were severely depressed which was thirty nine (39). The study revealed that young people were mostly depressed and their quality of life was decreasing. lt needs further study to explore more information about pattern of presentation of depression and its effect on the quality of life.Bang J Psychiatry Dec 2014; 28(2): 58-61

Depression and mental health in care homes for older people

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Dening ◽  
Alisoun Milne
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Term Care

About five per cent of ‐ generally very frail ‐ older people live in long‐term care in the UK; approximately a fifth of all deaths occur in care homes. Depression and dementia are prevalent mental health conditions in care homes; depression is reported in around a third of residents and dementia in two thirds. While there is some evidence about efficacy of medication in treating psychiatric and behavioural symptoms among residents, much less is known about the potential role of psychosocial interventions in enhancing mental health and quality of life. Quality of care varies widely across the carehome sector including support from primary and specialist health and quality and level of training. In terms of enhancing care quality, there is evidence that investing in staff training and conditions, establishing good links with healthcare providers, and developing care standards that genuinely promote good practice are likely to improve resident quality of life. This is an exciting area for research development and practice innovation for the future; taking account of users perspective, holds particular potential.

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