فصلنامه سالمند
پیاپی 14 (زمستان 1388)

The main goal of this study is to determine the effect of cognitive group counseling on the anxiety and depression factors in female senior citizens staying atnursing homes. The method used in this pilot study is the pre-test and post -test with a control group and the statistical society in this study consists of all theelder women staying at Madar Nursing Home in Sabzevar. The sample was selectedrandomly from the society under study. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)was primarily administered and then scores higher than six for anxiety anddepression factors were identified and a number of 30 subjects were selectedrandomly. Next, they were placed in two groups consisting of 15 subjects (subjectgroup and control group). The analysis of the results was performed using the covariance analysis. It indicates that cognitive group counseling significantly results in reducing depressionand anxiety. Cognitive group counseling has a positive effect on reducing anxietyand depression. Refresher courses for the staff and nurses working in the nursinghomes can serve as a supplementary treatment along with pharmaceutical treatment.

The aim of the study was to achieve the health status of theIranian elderly migrants in Australia. This study was done as a cross sectional surveycarried out in 2005-2007 on 302 Iranian immigrant aged 65 yrs and overwho had lived in Sydney Metropolitan area for at least 6 months. The majority of the Iranian elderly had a moderate level of anxietyand depression (44%) and more than half of them (58%) were experiencingaverage level of psychological wellbeing. From aspect of physical function(41%) Iranian elderly had moderate level of physical function as well aswithout limitation. With respect to daily living activity, the great part of theelderly participants (56%) were independent. The predictor variables ofSocio-demographic and acculturation were strong significant variables inphysical and mental health status of the Iranian elderly. Chronic medical conditions, Physical and social activity, andalso accessing information and awareness of aged care services predictedboth mental and physical health status of Iranian elderly respondents in thisstudy (P ≤0/001).

The aim of the current study was to determine the depressionstatus of the elderly and it's related factors. This was a cross sectional study. Sample unit wasbased on the elderly of Isfahan city in 2007. 248 elderly aged 60 andolder(125 men and 123 women) were selected randomly according toclusters related to the families that are under coverage of Isfahan Universityof Medical Science and its in provincial health centers of health deputythroughout the province. Depression status of them was evaluated byGeriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire which was standardized forthe Iranian population. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used todetermine the relationship between depression status and demographicfactors. From 125 elderly men and 123 elderly women,121(96.8 %) elderlymen and 110 (89.4 %) elderly women were in age group of 60-74 years and4 (3.2 %) elderly men and 13 (10.6 %) elderly women were in age group of75 years and over.36.3% of elderly people didnt have depression and 63.7%were sufffering depression (40.7% moderate depression and 23% severedepression). Low education level(diploma and lower) (OR = 2.14, CI0.95:1/05–4.39) was a risk factor for developing moderate depression but femalesex (OR =0/42, CI0.95: 0.2–0.85), and having alive spouse / husband andliving with her/him(OR =0.44,CI0.95: 0.19–1.001) had protective role indeveloping moderate depression. living with spouse / husband (OR =0.34, CI0.95: 0.14–0.85) had a protective role in developing severe depression, too. According to high prevalence of depression among elderly andimportant role of living alone in developing it, applying some interventionsuch as symptoms of depression for early detection and early treatment ofdisease(early intervention) and provision of cultural backgrounds andattitudes for remarriage of elderly people is necessary.

This study was done to assess the some factors which influenceon fruit and vegetable consumption among Iranian's elderly. This study was a cross sectional study which wasdone on 400 elderly people through a two stages sampling method. 10elderly centers were selected from all of elderly centers in Tehran. Duringsecond stage, a systematic random sampling method was used. Data wascollected using multi sectional questionnaire (Knowledge, perceived benefitsand barriers, stage of readiness, daily servings of fruit and vegetable inmeals, social support). One-way analysis of variance and regression analysiswere used to analysis the data. Fruit and vegetable intake among participations was 1.75± 1.12 servings/ day. There was no difference between men and women regarding the fruit andvegetable consumption (P>0.05). Our findings showed economic problems were themajor barrier for fruit and vegetable intake and accessibility to sellers was the majorfarilitator. Regression analysis indicated that, a higher fruit and vegetableconsumption was significantly associated with higher knowledge, safe life style, selfefficacy and lower perceived barriers. Elderly people in more advanced stages ofchange of attitudes and health knowledge and safe life style were more likely toconsume suitable amounts of fruits and vegetables in their diets. There are several factors which effect on fruit and vegetableconsumption in Iranian's elderlie's diet. Identifying these factors could helphealth educators to design effective interventions.

This study was designed to assess nutritional and biochemicalfactor of magnesium in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Materials AND METHODES: The population of this analytical crosssectionalstudy, was 60 postmenopausal osteoporotic women, referred torheumateology clinic of Tabriz. Nutritional intake was determined by 3 dayfood recall and food frequency questionnaire، individual and clinicalinformation by questionnaire and weight and height of subjects weremeasured by scale. Serum magnesium concentration was measured byatomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using analyticaland descriptive statistical methods. Mean age of women were 58. 85 years old. Mean of energy andprotein intake from diet was 1876 kcal, 53. 3 g/day, respectively. The meanintake of magnesium from diet was 120 mg/day that was significantly lowerthan recommended dietary allowance (P<0. 05) (37%RDA). Mean ofmagnesium serum concentration in this patients was 0. 7±0. 01 mmol/L thatwas in less normal ranges. The correlation between magnesium intake andage was significantly negative. Base on this study finding, magnesium status in women withpostmenopausal osteoporosis was not siutable considering the significantcorrelation between magnesium intake and bone mineral density andimportant role of magnesium on bone metabolism, nutritional education tointake magnesium rich foods, is suggested for maintanence of bone density.

The purpose of this study was to determine barriers andmotivators of physical activity in older adults. In this cross sectional study 153 older adults wereparticipated through classified randomized clustering method. Thequestionnaires were completed in face to face interview. Descriptivestatistics and U Mann Whitney test were used to analyzing data. Main motivators of physical activity were: independence, selfefficiency, prevention of fatigue, purchasing, sense of authority andnecessity of exercise for elderly that all of them are health related factors.Main barriers were chronic disease, handicap and pain. Men show highergrade in recreational, physical environment and social factor as motivator (Pvalue in orderly 0.000, 0.003 and 0.022). Women have greater barrier inhealth related factor and social environment (P value in orderly 0.000 and0.022). Based on our findings, the best way for extension of physicalactivity is introducing their effect on physical, mental and cognitive health.For reducing barriers the most important plan is presenting elderly specificexercise programs with experts.

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability in older adults.In current study, the effects of three types of orthoses on pain reduction wereevaluated in OA patients in Iran. In this prospective clinical trial, thirty six patientsconsisting of 11 men and 25 women with age (Mean±SD) of 54.56±2.82 years anddiagnosis of mild to moderate knee OA included. Patients were assigned to threegroups of neoprene sleeve, unloader knee brace, and insole with lateral heel wedgeeach with twelve members. Their pain evaluated using visual analog scale beforeorthotic treatment and again six months after orthotic treatment. The results of eachgroup compared together using paired t statistics. There was a significant difference in knee pain in all three groups beforeand after orthotic treatment (P<0.05). Percent of pain reduction was 40.909%,40.186% and 32.493% in neoprene sleeve, unloader knee brace, and insole withlateral heel wedge, respectively. It seems that neoprene sleeve by keeping the knee joint temperature, decreases pain. In group with unloader knee brace, probably the brace alters thigh and calf alignments during walking and causes pain reduction. In insole with lateral heel wedge group, it seems that insole by altering the orientation of calcaneus tovalgus, reduces pain. Future studies with more participants and with consideration oflonger follow-up in addition to measure knee and calcaneus displacements arerecommended.

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life and itsdimensions among the elderly people who were living at homes, private or publicnursing homes of the city of Tehran. This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 96 aged people in three groups of living at homes, inprivate and public nursing homes in the city of Tehran, whom were selectedaccording to the research criteria. Data were collected using Demographic andLEIPAD quality of life questionnaires. Kolmogorove-smirnov, One way ANOVA,Independent T-test, Kruskal-wallis, and x2 were used for analyzing data. The score of quality of life of the elderly living at theirhomes (65.57) was significantly higher than the score of subjects living in private (50.64) and publicnursing homes (51.30). There was a significant difference in the score of dimensionsof physical and social functioning and life satisfaction as well as self-care of elderlypeople living at homes and the elderly living in private and public nursing homes(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the "quality of life" score ofmale and female elderly in all three groups of the research. The elderly people living at homes have a better quality of life incomparison with their peers living in private and public nursing homes in the city ofTehran.