General Practitioners’ Perceptions of Heat Health Impacts on the Elderly in the Face of Climate Change—A Qualitative Study in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Global environmental degradation and climate change threaten the foundation of human health and well-being. In a confluence of crises, the accelerating pace of climate change and other environmental disruptions pose an additional, preventable danger to a global population that is both aging and carrying a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Climate change and environmental disruption function as “threat multipliers,” especially for those with NCDs, worsening the potential health impacts on those with suboptimal health. At the same time, these environmental factors threaten the basic pillars of health and prevention, increasing the risk of developing chronic disease. In the face of these threats, the core competencies of lifestyle medicine (LM) present crucial opportunities to mitigate climate change and human health impacts while also allowing individuals and communities to build resilience. LM health professionals are uniquely positioned to coach patients toward climate-healthy behavior changes that heal both people and the planet.

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School Nurses and Climate Change

Annual Review of Nursing Research ◽

10.1891/0739-6686.38.275 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 275-286

Author(s):

Karen May ◽

Delani Noel

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Continuing Education ◽

Local Level ◽

The Elderly ◽

School Nurses ◽

Health Impacts ◽

School Age ◽

Adolescent Students ◽

The Impact ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Climate change is a serious threat to human health. Nurses recognize vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by the consequences from climate change, especially the elderly, pregnant women, and children. Children with asthma and chronic health conditions are at the greatest risk for negative health outcomes and are the most important reason for climate advocacy. This descriptive correlational study seeks to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of school nurses related to the health impacts of climate change. School nurses are in a unique position to address the health impacts of climate change and become fierce advocates of climate justice because of population they serve. School-age and adolescent students are particularly vulnerable to the consequences climate change, which include poor air quality, increasing temperatures, and increasing pollen counts. School nurses were invited to participate in the study via email and provided information about the Nurses Climate Change Challenge. It was the goal of the study to assess these domains in school nurses' and later develop continuing education to support the care and advocacy of students. The results suggest more continuing education on climate change and climate conscious care is needed for school nurses. The current challenge is not only to be more prepared to treat a greater number of illnesses induced by climate change, it is also to maintain expertise and adapt to a changing environment. Nurses must address the impact of climate change on a local level by making changes in practice and engaging in research so that they are prepared with the knowledge, and skills to offer expertise in environmental health and the care of school-age populations.

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Elderly people's experience facing social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic

Rev Rene ◽

10.15253/2175-6783.20212269236 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

pp. e69236

Author(s):

Maria Alice Cavalcante Gomes ◽

Cristina da Silva Fernandes ◽

Natalia Ângela Oliveira Fontenele ◽

Nelson Miguel Galindo Neto ◽

Lívia Moreira Barros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Family Life ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

The Elderly ◽

The Third ◽

Software Interface ◽

The Face

Objective: to unveil the experience of the elderly with social isolation in the pandemic of COVID-19. Methods: qualitative study, with 14 elderlies in social isolation. The content was recorded and processed using the software Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires. Results: six classes were obtained, the first focused on spirituality and pre-pandemic pleasurable activities; the second was related to missing the extra-household routine and family life; the third, to the construction of a new routine; the fourth, to the strategies adopted for the prevention of COVID-19; the fifth, to the signs/symptoms experienced during the infection; and the sixth class, to the fear of dying. Conclusion: the experience of the elderly was permeated by the adaptation of routine, adoption of preventive measures and feelings of anguish in the face of uncertainties.

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Promoting education on the health effects of climate change for nurses in Finland

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.089 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

I Tiitta ◽

R McDermott-Levy ◽

J J K Jaakkola ◽

H Turunen ◽

L Kuosmanen

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Effects ◽

The Elderly ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Nursing Organizations ◽

Service Training ◽

Qualitative Descriptive ◽

Group Interviews

Abstract Background Climate change has a direct and indirect impact on human health that include health impacts from rising temperatures and poor air quality. Without changes in our greenhouse gas emissions, it is estimated that by the end of this century average temperatures will rise from two to four degrees Celsius worldwide. In Finland, this rise in temperature is estimated to be 1.5-2 times higher than other regions of the world. During the heatwaves in Finland in the 2000s, the mortality rate among the elderly increased by 21%. Nurses should be aware of these health effects and the patients who are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts caused by climate change. Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify the health issues that Finnish nurses associate with climate change. The purpose was also to find out how prepared nurses are to deal with the health effects of climate change. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in November 2018 using focus group interviews to collect data. Results Interviews revealed that nurses have seen much of the health damage caused by climate change in their patients. However, they had not linked their observed changes in patients' health to climate change. Nurses interviewed felt unaware of the health effects of climate change. In addition, nurses felt that climate change was not adequately addressed in basic and in-service training. Conclusions Education could strengthen the competence of nurses in helping their patients prevent and reduce the health impacts caused by climate change. It is therefore important to include climate change and its impact on human health in the nursing curriculum. Key messages Nursing organizations can influence nurses’ understanding of climate change in their practice. Nurses' understanding can be used leverage their role in reaching nurses for new and emerging health conditions that influence public health.

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United for marriage: Dynamics of elderly couples

Interpersona An International Journal on Personal Relationships ◽

10.5964/ijpr.v14i1.3917 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Beatriz Porpino do Rosário Chacon ◽

Janari da Silva Pedroso

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Mental State ◽

Intimate Relationships ◽

Aging Population ◽

The Elderly ◽

The Face ◽

Life Projects

In the face of aging population and the fluidity of intimate relationships, this qualitative study aimed to understand the conjugal dynamics of elderly couples who have been together for more than 20 years. Reflections about the aging, the conjugality formation and the marriage transformations were made by the psychodynamic bias. The Mini-Exam of the Mental State was applied to five Brazilian couples aged from 60 to 83 years old, with an average marriage time of 41.6 years, who were at last interviewed. Such interviews were guided by a semi-directed script with identifying data and five questions previously elaborated according to the research objective. This content was analyzed and their results were thematized showing that couples perceive marriage as a union requiring commitment and sharing of life projects. It was concluded that even amidst a hedonist society, the elderly are not yet thoughtful of individuality, because love for them has a connotation other than a sum of pleasurable moments.

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