scholarly journals Community Intervention In Elderly Population: A Fall Prevention Project

10.3823/2562 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Lúcia Moreira Massa Coimbra ◽  
Ermelinda Maria Bernardo Gonçalves Marques ◽  
Cristina Alexandra Lopes Requeijo ◽  
Renata Jabour Saraiva

Objective: This article seeks to present a pilot project of community intervention that aims to prevent the occurrence of falls in the elderly in a community setting. Method: It is a prospective study in the temporal relationship, based on Health Planning, it was developed for 9 weeks in a Community Care Unit in the Northern Region of Portugal. Data collection and interventions were performed in the home of 6 of the 12 elderly being followed up at home by the nursing team. Elderly institutionalized and totally dependent were excluded. For the collection of data, an evaluation protocol was filled out using the Morse scale, validated for the Portuguese population, to assess the risk of falls.   Results: Of the elderly who underwent nursing interventions, 50% presented a high risk of falls. Epidemiological indicators show that the incidence rate of falls was 0% and the prevalence rate of falls, in the last year was, 37.5%.  Conclusion: The data collected was used for the production of epidemiological indicators, structure, process, and results. It is suggested to continue the project for one year, covering a larger sample and subsequent evaluation, and the creation of indicators for informal care providers.

Author(s):  
Benjamin Chaix ◽  
Jean-Emmanuel Bibault ◽  
Arthur Pienkowski ◽  
Guillaume Delamon ◽  
Arthur Guillemassé ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND A chatbot is a software that interacts with users by simulating a human conversation through text or voice via smartphones or computers. It could be a solution to follow up with patients during their disease while saving time for health care providers. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate one year of conversations between patients with breast cancer and a chatbot. METHODS Wefight Inc designed a chatbot (Vik) to empower patients with breast cancer and their relatives. Vik responds to the fears and concerns of patients with breast cancer using personalized insights through text messages. We conducted a prospective study by analyzing the users’ and patients’ data, their usage duration, their interest in the various educational contents proposed, and their level of interactivity. Patients were women with breast cancer or under remission. RESULTS A total of 4737 patients were included. Results showed that an average of 132,970 messages exchanged per month was observed between patients and the chatbot, Vik. Thus, we calculated the average medication adherence rate over 4 weeks by using a prescription reminder function, and we showed that the more the patients used the chatbot, the more adherent they were. Patients regularly left positive comments and recommended Vik to their friends. The overall satisfaction was 93.95% (900/958). When asked what Vik meant to them and what Vik brought them, 88.00% (943/958) said that Vik provided them with support and helped them track their treatment effectively. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that it is possible to obtain support through a chatbot since Vik improved the medication adherence rate of patients with breast cancer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 368-376
Author(s):  
Kosana Stanetic ◽  
Vesna Kevic ◽  
Mirko Stanetic

Introduction. The number of people over 65 is increasing in the world, and falls are rather common among them. The objective of this research was to examine the impact of depression, dementia, the number of chronic diseases and the number of used medications in the risk of falls in the elderly. Material and Methods. We carried out a prospective study during the period from March 20 to May 20, 2016. The patients were interviewed, and data were also obtained from medical records. The data collection included a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Tinetti Gait and Balance Instrument, Beck Depression Inventory and the Folstein Mini-Mental State test to assess cognitive functions. Results. The study included 208 patients older than 65 years, 81 men, 127 women. The Tinetti Gait and Balance tool revealed that onethird (63) of patients were at a high risk of falls, 35 patients at a moderate risk, and 110 patients presented with a low risk of falls. The results of our study showed a statistically significant association between dementia (p = 0.000) and depression (p = 0.000) as the risks of falling. Patients with some chronic diseases and patients continuously taking various drugs were also at higher risk of falls. Conclusion. Timely detection and treatment of depression and dementia may contribute to reducing the risk of falls in the elderly. Patients? medication lists should be reviewed to decrease the number of medications or modify the dose. Family physicians play a major role in preventing falls in the elderly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-12
Author(s):  
Nelema Jahan ◽  
Md. Mamunur Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Shahidul Alam ◽  
Md Saiful Islam

Background: A breast lump is the most common symptom associated with both benign and malignant breast diseases. Therefore, a distinction of benign from malignant lump is of importance for proper management. Though a definitive diagnosis is possible with imaging for all the lesions, histopathological study is proven essential for confirming the diagnosis. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of USG and histopathological findings of different breast lump in diagnosis and their comparison. Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a period of one year from January 2017 to December 2017. A total of 116 patients were included in this study. All breast lumps underwent surgery and the ultrasound findings of these lumps were compared with the histopathological findings. Data were collected from these patients by a preformed questionnaire and finally the data were analyzed. Results: Out of 116 patients only 21 cases were reported as malignant in ultrasound report but histopathology revealed 31 malignant patients. On histopathological examination 10 benign cases turned out to be malignant. Conclusion: The present study was undertaken to evaluate in diagnosing breast mass lesions individually by ultrasound and compared with histopathology for definitive management of a patient. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2019) Vol. 23 (1) : 10-12


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-233
Author(s):  
Vakhtang Merabishvili

Malignant melanoma of the skin (MMS) is less than 2% (1.74%) among all malignant tumors in Russia but this is more than 10,000 (10236-2015) of new cases. It is important to monitor the trend in dynamics of morbidity and mortality from this cause. From 1995 to 2015 a number of MMS primary cases was more than doubled in absolute numbers and “crude” rates. A slightly smaller increase is indicated by standardized indicators - 62.5% for men and 70.2% for women. Annually in Russia 3670 people die from MMS (2015), which is 1.2% of all cancer deaths. In recent years the previously revealed regularities have been largely preserved: lower rates of specific gravity detected in the early stages among people in the elderly and senile and in a smaller proportion in this group who received special treatment. At the same time a change in the detailed structure of the incidence of women has been revealed where currently the leading localization of MMS was not the lower extremities but the back. The index accuracy improved however the official statistics of the distribution of patients by stages of a disease was significantly distorted (weight of the early stages was increased from the real values). The index of one-year lethality and survival was significantly improved.


1990 ◽  
Vol 157 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Ben-Arie ◽  
M. Welman ◽  
A. F. Teggin

In a 1982 community survey, 23 elderly respondents were rated as having a depressive disorder by catego. Twenty survivors were followed up three and a half years later. The depression had remitted within one year in seven cases but nine were still depressed. There is a need for ongoing education of GPs about the recognition and course of depression in the elderly.


Author(s):  
Win Wah ◽  
Rob G. Stirling ◽  
Susannah Ahern ◽  
Arul Earnest

Predicting lung cancer cases at the small-area level is helpful to quantify the lung cancer burden for health planning purposes at the local geographic level. Using Victorian Cancer Registry (2001–2018) data, this study aims to forecast lung cancer counts at the local government area (LGA) level over the next ten years (2019–2028) in Victoria, Australia. We used the Age-Period-Cohort approach to estimate the annual age-specific incidence and utilised Bayesian spatio-temporal models that account for non-linear temporal trends and area-level risk factors. Compared to 2001, lung cancer incidence increased by 28.82% from 1353 to 1743 cases for men and 78.79% from 759 to 1357 cases for women in 2018. Lung cancer counts are expected to reach 2515 cases for men and 1909 cases for women in 2028, with a corresponding 44% and 41% increase. The majority of LGAs are projected to have an increasing trend for both men and women by 2028. Unexplained area-level spatial variation substantially reduced after adjusting for the elderly population in the model. Male and female lung cancer cases are projected to rise at the state level and in each LGA in the next ten years. Population growth and an ageing population largely contributed to this rise.


2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982110089
Author(s):  
Gillian R. Diercks ◽  
Michael S. Cohen

Objective To evaluate how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected tympanostomy tube placement and practice patterns. Study Design A retrospective review of billing data. Setting A large-volume practice with both community and tertiary care providers. Methods As part of a quality initiative, billing data were queried to identify children <18 years of age who underwent tympanostomy tube placement between January 2019 and December 2020. Patient age, practice location, and case numbers were gathered. Results The study included data from 2652 patients. Prior to state-mandated clinic and operating room restrictions, there were no significant differences in the number of tympanostomy tubes placed ( P = .64), including month-to-month comparisons, the distribution of patients being cared for at community vs tertiary care sites ( P = .63), or patient age at the time of surgery ( P = .97) between 2019 and 2020. After resumption of outpatient clinical and elective surgical activities, the number of tympanostomy tubes placed decreased significantly between 2019 and 2020 (831 vs 303 cases, P = .003), with a persistent month-to-month difference. In addition, patients undergoing tube placement were older (4.5 vs 3.2 years, P < .001). The distribution of cases performed in the community setting decreased during this time period as well ( P < .001). Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of pediatric tympanostomy tube placement has significantly decreased. The age of patients undergoing surgery has increased, and more children are being cared for in a tertiary setting. These findings may reflect changes in the prevalence of acute and chronic otitis media as the result of the pandemic.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Hernan Vanegas ◽  
Fredman González ◽  
Yaoska Reyes ◽  
Edwing Centeno ◽  
Jayrintzina Palacios ◽  
...  

Zika virus (ZIKV) RNA has been found to remain in human semen for up to one year after infection, but the presence of Flavivirus antigens in the different compartments of semen has been largely unexplored. Following the introduction of ZIKV in Nicaragua (2016), a prospective study of patients with clinical symptoms consistent with ZIKV was conducted in León to investigate virus shedding in different fluids. ZIKV infection was confirmed in 16 male subjects (≥18 years of age) by RT-qPCR in either blood, saliva or urine. Of these, three provided semen samples at 7, 14, 21, 28, 60 and 180 days postsymptom onset (DPSO) for Flavivirus antigens and RNA studies. These cases were compared with 19 asymptomatic controls. Flavivirus antigens were examined by immunofluorescence (IF) using the 4G2 Mabs, and confocal microscopy was used to explore fluorescence patterns. The three (100%) symptomatic subjects and 3 (16%) of the 19 asymptomatic subjects had Flavivirus antigens and viral RNA in the spermatozoa fraction. The percentage of IF Flavivirus-positive spermatozoa cells ranged from 1.9% to 25% in specimens from symptomatic subjects, as compared with 0.8% to 3.8% in specimens from asymptomatic controls. A marked IF-pattern in the cytoplasmic droplets and tail of the spermatozoa was observed. The sperm concentrations (45 × 106/mL vs. 63.5 × 106/mL, p = 0.041) and the total motility percentage (54% vs. 75%, p = 0.009) were significantly lower in specimens from ZIKV-positive than in those of ZIKV-negative. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the presence of Flavivirus antigens and RNA within a time frame of 28 DPSO in sperm cells of symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects during the ZIKV epidemic. These findings have implications for public health, in terms of nonarthropod-born, silent transmission facilitated by sperm cells and potential transmission from asymptomatic males to pregnant women, with consequences to the fetus.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
In-Gyu Yoo ◽  
Ji-Hye Do

BACKGROUND: Posture control involves complex reactions of dynamic and static movements, and various sensory inputs. There is evidence that exercise using multisensory stimulation is moderately effective in improving the balance of the elderly. OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this paper was to examine the existing literature to validate the effectiveness and applicability of multisensory stimulation training. METHODS: All relevant literature published as of June 1, 2020 in four prominent databases was searched (Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of science) using the five-stage review framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. RESULTS: Multisensory stimulation training was more effective when vestibular and somatosensory were combined with visual stimuli, and differences in effectiveness compared to the effectiveness of existing treatments were confirmed. However, most of the reviewed papers are compared to simple strength training, and studies that compare the effects of multisensory stimulation training by setting a control group are still lacking. CONCLUSION: Further research is required to further elucidate the training conditions and treatment environment for multisensory training for the elderly at risk of falls and to provide strategies to improve treatment methods. In addition, a study that can evaluate user satisfaction in a way that best shows the treatment effect using qualitative research methods will be needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. 10-10
Author(s):  
Vigdis Lauvrak ◽  
Kelly Farrah ◽  
Rosmin Esmail ◽  
Anna Lien Espeland ◽  
Elisabet Hafstad ◽  
...  

IntroductionIn 2019, the Norwegian Institute for Public Health and Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) received support from HTAi to produce a quarterly current awareness alert for the HTAi Disinvestment and Early Awareness Interest Group in collaboration with the HTAi Information Retrieval Interest Group. The alert focuses on methods and topical issues, and broader forecasts of potentially disruptive technologies that may be of interest to those involved in horizon scanning and disinvestment initiatives in health technology assessment (HTA).MethodsInformation specialists at both agencies developed search strategies for disinvestment and for horizon scanning in PubMed and Google. The template for the alert was based on an e-newsletter developed by the Information Retrieval Interest Group. Information specialists and researchers reviewed the monthly (PubMed) and weekly (Google) search results and selected potentially relevant publications. Additional sources were also identified through regular HTA and horizon scanning work.ResultsAlerts are posted quarterly on the HTAi Interest Group website; members receive an email notice when new alerts are available. While the revised PubMed searches are identifying relevant information, Google alerts have been disappointing, and this search may need to be revised further or dropped. When the one-year pilot project ends, in Fall 2020, interest group members will be surveyed to see if the alerts were useful, and whether they have suggestions for improving them.ConclusionsCollaborating on this alert service reduces duplication of effort between agencies, and makes new research in horizon scanning and disinvestment more accessible to colleagues in other agencies working in these areas.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document