مجله سلامت و سالمندی خزر
سال هفتم شماره 1 (بهار و تابستان 1401)

Since the vast majority of patients with hypertension have relatively low medication compliance and self-efficacy as well as have no adequate control over their blood pressure despite routine training, the aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of medication use and self-efficacy in patients with hypertension.

In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 133 patients were selected through the convenience sampling method. Data were collected via questionnaires of demographic characteristics, abbreviated mental test (AMT), knowledge of medication use and self-efficacy in patients with hypertension. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 through Kruskal-Wallis, U Mann-Whitney and logistic regression tests.

The majority of study patients (74.4%) were 50-70 years old. Mean knowledge of medication use was 9.67±1.10 (moderate level) and mean self-efficacy was 360.03±96.59 (high level). There was a significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and status of knowledge of medication use in patients with hypertension (r = 0.407, P<0.001).

In this study, there was a significant relationship between self-efficacy status of knowledge of medication use in patients with hypertension. Therefore, health system policymakers can use appropriate educational interventions to raise knowledge of medication use and self-efficacy of patients to increase the likelihood of timely medication use in these patients.

Despite the importance of sexual health in the elderly people with stroke, the concept of sexual health and sexual issues in these people has been influenced by cultural misconceptions. The aim of this study was to review the definitions of sexual intercourse, intimacy and sexual issues and to explain the related nursing interventions in the elderly people with stroke.

To do so, the articles published in this field during 1930-2021 were collected through searching in databases using the keywords including sexual rights, intimacy, sexual health, sexual functioning, sexual behavior, sexual issues, effective factors, older people and stroke and according to the purpose of the study, the related articles were selected from them as well as their findings were summarized.

Health-oriented sexual intercourse in the elderly people with stroke takes a positive and respectful approach to sexual issues. Intimacy in the elderly is mainly associated with physical, mental and emotional well-being. Sexual intercourse in the elderly is more influenced by psychological and social factors. Despite all these points, addressing sexual issues in the elderly not only in Iran but also in many countries due to cultural and structural barriers in society, inadequate beliefs and training of nursing staff is often unknown in nursing evaluation. The permission, limited information, specific suggestions and intensive therapy (PLISSIT) model is known as a sexual therapy model in this regard.

In order to improve the health and quality of sexual intercourse, sexual rights and quality of life of the elderly people with stroke, it is necessary for elderly nurses and sexual health professionals to pay attention to behavioral changes and sexual issues in their clinical evaluations. Using the PLISSIT model in the study of sexual issues in the elderly, creating a culture and providing counseling and education to the elderly in this regard can help identify potential problems, reduce misconceptions and empower the elderly people with stroke in this regard.

Positive thinking believes that positive emotions and abilities are the best factors for preventing psychological trauma. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of positivity training on anxiety tolerance, sleep quality, and resilience in older women in Kermanshah.

This semi-experimental study was performed based on a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the current study was all older women in Kermanshah. Thirty women were selected using the convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into two groups (15=experimental group and 15=control group). Data were collected using the distress tolerance scale, sleep quality scale, and Neill and Dias’s resilience scale. First, a pre-test was administered to both groups, next, the positivity training was performed in the experimental group, but the control group did not receive any intervention. Then, a post-test was administered to both groups, and the data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 20.

The results of the analysis of covariance showed that positivity training had a significant effect on sleep quality and resilience in older women in Kermanshah.

This study indicated that positivity training was an effective intervention for the elderly. Due to the increase in the number of elderly people in Iran, positivity training can be effective in increasing their quality of life.

Several factors affect the attitude of nursing students towards the elderly, one of which is mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mental health predictors on nursing students' attitudes towards the elderly.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 167 students who met the inclusion criteria were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Kogan's Attitudes towards Older People Scale (KAOPS), and Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scale (RPWBS). Data were analyzed through SPSS 22 using the regression test and independent t-test.

According to the results, 23.4 and 76.6% of the participants had moderate and poor attitudes towards the elderly and the total mental health score was 64.95+19.08, indicating that the mental health status of students was moderate. There was a direct linear relationship between nursing students' attitudes towards the elderly and their mental health status. Nevertheless, a moderate correlation was found between the two variables(p <0.001 r = 0.49).

Since the attitude of nurses and nursing students who care for the elderly is predictable via their level of mental health, it seems that the evaluation of this trait in students who will provide services to the elderly in the future can improve students’ attitudes and prevent phenomena such as age discrimination.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a life-threatening factor worldwide. Identifying the characteristics of the affected population helps to identify risk factors and determine more effective treatment goals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the demographic characteristics and clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in West Mazandaran hospitals.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 758 patients admitted to the COVID care unit using the census method. The research population was all COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the internal wards, intensive care unit, and ward 550 (for COVID-19 patients) of hospitals from February 13 to May 20, 2021. Data were collected from the care monitoring center and using a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests through SPSS 22.

Totally, 52.1% and 47.9% of COVID-19 patients were men and women, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of patients' age were 59.77 ±18.22 years. The most common clinical signs were fever (53.7%) and cough (46.3%). There was a statistically significant relationship between contracting COVID-19 and presence of immune-mediated diseases associated with cancer (p=0.0001), diabetes (p=0.008), immune system diseases (p=0.001), heart disease (p=0.0001) and hypertension (p=0.0001) in the studied patients based on treatment outcome (discharge and death).

Old age and underlying diseases put people at higher risk for COVID-19. It is recommended that these people should be given more attention.