[Analysis of the Educational Program for Self-Care in the Elderly (PECA) for improving the quality of life of the elderly]

Impact of an Educational Intervention for Healthy Eating in Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study

The elderly population in Ecuador is increasing rapidly, with an increasing incidence of diet-related diseases. The elderly living in the community seek alternative and complementary methods to improve their diet and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an educational intervention on knowledge related to healthy eating among older adults. This intervention is rooted in the principles of meaningful learning and incorporates culturally adapted materials. A quasi-experimental study design was employed using a pre-test-post-test control group. Study participants were a total of 109 elderly (intervention: n = 51, control: n = 58) people in Cuenca, Ecuador. The educational intervention based on Ausubel's theory of significant learning and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory was programmed to be carried out for one session per week, over 24 weeks, with a duration of 120 min per session. The measures were the general characteristics of the study participants and knowledge about necessary amounts, food sources and the consequences of deficits or excesses in the consumption of macro- and micronutrients. Data were collected from August 2018 to February 2019. Statistically significant differences were observed between the intervention group (IG) and the control group (CG) in terms of knowledge about healthy eating for older adults following the educational intervention. The outcomes of this study strongly suggest the efficacy of the program in improving knowledge related to healthy eating among older adults. Healthcare providers should prioritize food education based on meaningful learning, utilizing culturally adapted materials for the elderly individuals residing within the community.

Validity and reliability of the Spanish caregiver reaction assessment scale for caregivers of people with dementia

AIM

Of the few instruments available to measure the important, positive aspects of caring, the Caregiver Reaction Assessment is regarded as the most suitable, but there is no validated Spanish version. The aim of this study was to translate the Caregiver Reaction Assessment into Spanish and assess its psychometric properties.

METHODS

The Caregiver Reaction Assessment was translated into Spanish and then back translated. Validation included construct validity, criterion validity and reliability: 287 interviews were conducted with informal caregivers of patients with dementia between November 2010 and April 2012.

RESULTS

Principal component analysis confirmed the original instrument's five subscales. Criterion validity showed a moderate negative correlation between the impact on health and the EQ-5D (r = -.43), that is, a greater impact on health correlated with lower health-related quality of life. The Caregiver Reaction Assessment showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of .804, and good temporal stability for the distinct subscales, with intraclass correlation coefficients varying from .683 to .729 (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

The Caregiver Reaction Assessment is a reliable, valid instrument for the measurement of the reactions of informal caregivers of patients with dementia, with good psychometric properties.

How to Undertake Aging in a Healthy Way: Changes and Opportunities

Objective: To know the socio-demographic characteristics of the elderly adults (60-70 years), of the population of Mataró (Barcelona), and their relationship with the knowledge degree and training needs perceived to face a healthy aging. Materials and methods: Descriptive observational cross-sectional study in which a sample of 306 people was analysed. Socio-demographic data and variables related to leisure activities, health status, training, formative needs and predisposition to take a course on aging were evaluated. Results: About a 60 % of the respondents showed interest in receiving training about; healthy habits (59,1 %), proper diet (62,0 %), work out (59,6 %), future limitations (62,6 %), why we grow old (61,0 %), frequent illnesses in the elderly (62,5 %), use of medication (66,1 %), use of the health system (61,9 %), social resources (70,0 %), new technologies (64,0 %), care of sick people (60,5 %), and security aspects (61,6 %). Conclusions: There is a need to receive training among the elderly adult population in order to cope with aging in a healthier way. The main needs perceived by the elderly are: Healthy habits, possible future limitations due to the aging process, use of medication, functioning of the health system and access to social resources, new technologies and, finally, caring for sick relatives.

Do health and social support and personal autonomy have an influence on the health-related quality of life of individuals with intellectual disability?

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between perceived social support and personal autonomy of individuals with intellectual disabilities and Health-Related Quality of Life.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with a multicentre sample was carried out including 162 institutionalized individuals with intellectual disability. The measurement tool was a structured questionnaire with sociodemographic variables, and three scales: Functional Independence Measure(FIM) scale, Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, and SF-36 Health Survey, which were completed during an individual/family interview.

RESULTS

The perception of received social support is high on all 11 items of the Duke-UNC questionnaire, with an average of 3.45 for item-1 and 4.85 for item-11, which represents a total perceived support of an average 47.98 points (±SD7.30) (normal support). The Mental-Health component is rated worse than Physical-Health (67.41 vs. 71.74). The average rates for the different dimensions range from 57.34 points for Social-Functioning (the lowest rating) to 79.61 points for Bodily-Pain (highest rating). A multiple linear regression analysis reveals that the dimensions of Physical-Functioning (p < 0.001), Role-Physical (p = 0.016) and Bodily-Pain (p = 0.022), which are elements of the Physical-Health component, are independent predictive variables with the Degree of Autonomy (FIM) as a dependent variable. Social-Support (Duke-UNC) as a dependent variable is determined by the dimensions of Vitality (p = 0.014), Role-Emotional (p = 0.001) and Mental-Health (p < 0.001), which are part of the Mental-Health component and act as independent predictive variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with intellectual disability and a higher degree of personal autonomy determined by institutional and family support report better Health and Quality of Life.

Educação em saúde como principal alternativa para promover a saúde do idoso

Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa que objetivou identificar as evidências científicas sobre as ações educativas em saúde voltadas à promoção da saúde do idoso. A busca dos artigos foi realizada nas bases de dados Medline, Lilacs, BDENF, CINAHL e biblioteca virtual SciELO, por meio do cruzamento dos descritores Educação em Saúde, Idoso, Envelhecimento, Saúde do Idoso, Promoção da Saúde e Qualidade de vida, incluindo-se artigos publicados no período de 2003 a 2013, nos idiomas inglês, espanhol e português, realizados com idosos. Foram selecionados oito artigos, dos quais percebeu-se a qualidade de vida e a promoção do envelhecimento saudável como fatores resultantes das estratégias de educação em saúde. As ações de educação em saúde para idosos necessitam de metodologias que atentem para a complexidade do processo de envelhecimento e relacionem os fatores que cercam o indivíduo, como as crenças, os valores, as normas e os modos de vida.

Fatores associados à participação de idosos em atividades educativas grupais

Estudo que objetivou caracterizar os idosos e a sua participação em atividades educativas grupais, verificar os fatores sociodemográficos e de saúde associados à não participação. O inquérito transversal foi realizado com 2.142 idosos. Utilizou-se análise descritiva, teste t-Student e regressão logística (p < 0,05). A maioria, em ambos os grupos, era do sexo feminino, 60├70 anos, casados e com renda de um salário mínimo. Os idosos participativos apresentaram, predominantemente, 1├4 anos de estudo e os não participativos, 4├8. As morbidades mais referidas pelos idosos que participavam de atividades educativas foram hipertensão arterial e problemas de visão. Entre os não participativos, prevaleceram os problemas de visão e problemas de coluna. Em ambos os grupos, o maior percentual foi para 1├3 incapacidades. A faixa etária de 80 anos e mais esteve associada à maior chance de não participação nas atividades. Faz-se necessário planejar ações que favoreçam a participação, contribuindo para o acompanhamento das suas condições de saúde.

Qualidade de vida de idosos e participação em atividades educativas grupais

OBJETIVO: Comparar os escores de qualidade de vida entre os idosos participativos e não participativos de atividades educativas grupais. MÉTODOS: Estudo tipo inquérito domiciliar transversal realizado com 1.255 idosos. Foram usados a análise descritiva e teste t-Student (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: A maioria, em ambos os grupos, era do gênero feminino, na faixa etária de 60-70 anos; Prevaleceram também os casados ou os que moravam com companheiro, residiam com filhos e tinham renda mensal de um salário-mínimo. Os participativos apresentaram predominantemente 1-4 anos de estudo e os não participativos, 4-8. Os idosos que participavam de atividades educativas grupais apresentaram menor escore no domínio relações sociais e nas facetas funcionamento dos sentidos, autonomia, atividades passadas, presentes e futuras e participação social, comparados aos não participativos. CONCLUSÃO: Evidencia-se a necessidade de reflexão sobre as atividades educativas grupais desenvolvidas nos serviços de saúde, como fator que contribui para a melhoria das condições de saúde e qualidade de vida dos idosos.

Nutrition education intervention for dependent patients: protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Background

Malnutrition in dependent patients has a high prevalence and can influence the prognosis associated with diverse pathologic processes, decrease quality of life, and increase morbidity-mortality and hospital admissions.

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of an educational intervention for caregivers on the nutritional status of dependent patients at risk of malnutrition.

Methods/Design

Intervention study with control group, randomly allocated, of 200 patients of the Home Care Program carried out in 8 Primary Care Centers (Spain). These patients are dependent and at risk of malnutrition, older than 65, and have caregivers. The socioeconomic and educational characteristics of the patient and the caregiver are recorded. On a schedule of 0–6–12 months, patients are evaluated as follows: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), food intake, dentures, degree of dependency (Barthel test), cognitive state (Pfeiffer test), mood status (Yesavage test), and anthropometric and serum parameters of nutritional status: albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, haemoglobin, lymphocyte count, iron, and ferritin.

Prior to the intervention, the educational procedure and the design of educational material are standardized among nurses. The nurses conduct an initial session for caregivers and then monitor the education impact at home every month (4 visits) up to 6 months. The North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) methodology will be used. The investigators will study the effect of the intervention with caregivers on the patient’s nutritional status using the MNA test, diet, anthropometry, and biochemical parameters.

Bivariate normal test statistics and multivariate models will be created to adjust the effect of the intervention.

The SPSS/PC program will be used for statistical analysis.

Discussion

The nutritional status of dependent patients has been little studied. This study allows us to know nutritional risk from different points of view: diet, anthropometry and biochemistry in dependent patients at nutritional risk and to assess the effect of a nutritional education intervention. The design with random allocation, inclusion of all patients, validated methods, caregivers’ education and standardization between nurses allows us to obtain valuable information about nutritional status and prevention.

Trial Registration number

Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01360775

Protective effects of social networks on disability among older adults in Spain

The loss of autonomy at advanced ages is not only associated with ageing, but also with the characteristics of the physical and social environment. Recent investigations have shown that social networks, social engagement and participation act like predictors of disability among the elderly. The aim of this study is to determine whether social networks are related to the development and progression of disability in the early years of old age. The source of data is the first wave of the survey "Processes of Vulnerability among Spanish Elderly", carried out in 2005 to a sample of 1244 individuals. The population object of study is the cohort aged 70-74 years in metropolitan areas (Madrid and Barcelona) and not institutionalized. Disability is measured by the development of basic activities of daily life (ADL), and instrumental activities of daily life (IADL). The structural aspects of the social relationships are measured through the diversity of social networks and participation. We used the social network index (SNI). For each point over the SNI, the risk of developing any type of disability decreased by 49% (HR=0.51, 95%CI=0.31-0.82). The SNI was a decisive factor in all forecasting models constructed with some hazard ratios (HR) that ranged from 0.29 (95%CI=0.14-0.59) in the first model to 0.43 (95%CI 0.20-0.90) in the full model. The results of the present study showed a strong association between an active social life, emotional support provided by friends and confidents and disability. These findings suggest a protective effect of social networks on disability. Also, these results indicate that some family and emotional ties have a significant effect on both the prevalence and the incidence of disability.