Delivering health information about self-medication to older adults: use of touchscreen-equipped notebook computers

Preventing Drug Interactions in Active Older Adults is an educational intervention to prevent prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug and alcohol interactions in active, community-living older adults. The objectives of the program are to increase older adults' knowledge of potential interactions of prescription medications with OTC drugs and alcohol and to increase their confidence (self-efficacy) about how to avoid such interactions. An interactive multimedia computer software program (Personal Education Program or PEP) was designed for the learning styles and psychomotor skills of older adults. Focus groups of older adults evaluated PEP components in a formative manner during development. The program content dealing with antacids, calcium supplements, and acid reducers was pilot tested with 60 older adults recruited from local senior centers. Participants used the PEP on notebook computers equipped with infrared-sensitive touchscreens. Users of PEP had greater knowledge and self-efficacy scores than controls. Participants indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the PEP and reported their intent to make specific changes in self-medication behaviors.

Promoting elder wellness through a community-based blood pressure clinic

As the American population ages, we can expect to find greater numbers of older adults with chronic diseases and health concerns. Therefore the implementation of communitybased blood pressure clinics that promote elder wellness becomes increasingly important. This article will describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a community-focused elder wellness program in a rural community using Anderson and McFarlane's (1996) Community-as-Partner model as a theoretical framework for community health nursing practice. Evaluation results of the elder wellness program suggest that blood pressure screenings provide community health nurses (CHNs) with unique opportunities to promote wellness in older adults when provided in an atmosphere that encourages nurse-client interactions.