Class of 2008 Abstract / Objectives: Use of expired and unused prescription medication in the elderly population is not clearly defined. Improper use of medication can lead to serious adverse drug events and poor health outcomes. More information on the actual use of expired and unused medications in the elderly population may help in determining the need for future education of this population on this subject. Methods: A total of 72 people 65 years or older completed an anonymous survey about use of expired and unused medication. The completed survey was returned by mail. The data was extracted into a database and analyzed using chi-squared, averages, and percentages. Results: The data showed that there was no significant difference between the age groups with respect to willingness to share medications with family or friends. The population was predominantly white, and most respondents had completed some level of college education. The results showed 69.4% of respondents would share at least one category of medication with a friend or family member. 56.9% of respondents would share at least one category of medication with a friend, and 66.7% would share at least one with a family member (p=0.23). Respondents indicated they would take 23.4% of the medications listed as being in their possession if they were expired and would only share only 6.9% of the listed medications with a friend or family member. Conclusions: This data demonstrated that this population was reluctant to share medications they actually possessed, but were theoretically willing to share some categories of medications. More research needs to be done to assess use of expired medications and medication sharing in all populations, and especially in the elderly population.

Diarrhoeal disease is considered the second most common cause of morbidity and fourth most common cause of mortality, worldwide. Low-income countries such as those in Africa and Asia bear the greatest burden of gastroenteritis. Diarrhoeal disease affects individuals of all ages, however, children <5 years of age, the immunocompromised and the elderly population ≥65 years of age are most severely affected. The elderly population, particularly immunocompromised patients residing in long-term care facilities represent high-risk groups for gastroenteritis and surveillance of these individuals in South Africa is under-represented. It has been observed that an individual’s fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) secretor status has been associated with different degrees of infection by rotaviruses and noroviruses. A total of 1 012 stool specimens from elderly patients were collected over an 18-month surveillance period, of which 340 specimens met the inclusion criteria and were tested. Virus screening was performed using a lyophilised real-time multiplex RT-PCR/PCR screening iv assay testing for norovirus GI and GII, rotavirus, human adenovirus, human astrovirus and sapovirus. Careful analysis of the real-time (RT)-PCR amplification plots and export data identified 50 viruses in 40 patient specimens. Seven norovirus GI/GII dual-infections were observed and three co-infections were identified, each with an astrovirus accompanying infection by a rotavirus, sapovirus and human adenovirus. FUT2 genotyping was performed to acquire the secretor status for all the rotavirus- and norovirus-positive individuals. The real-time TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay was inconsistent in amplifying the SNP in the FUT2 gene from stool-extracted DNA of elderly patients, and therefore an alternative, conventional genotyping PCR approach was performed. This approach was successful in acquiring the secretor status of 14/21 patient specimens. A total of 10 homozygous secretors, three heterozygous secretors and one homozygous non-secretor were identified. Virus-positive specimens identified in this study were genotyped and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Overall, 14 norovirus- GI, 12 norovirus- GII, 10 sapovirus-, six human adenovirus-, six human astrovirus- and two rotavirus-positives were identified. From the 14 norovirus GI positives, three polymerase regions and two capsid regions were successfully genotyped. The polymerase strains all belonged to genotype GI.P1 and the capsid sequences were all GI.1 genotypes. Only one virus was successfully dual-genotyped as GI.1[P1]. For norovirus GII, a total of nine polymerase and nine capsid strains were genotyped successfully. All the polymerase sequences belonged to the GII.P31 genotype and eight capsid sequences identified as GII.4 Sydney 2012 strains, with a single GII.6 genotype identified. Three of the six adenovirus positives were genotyped, of which one strain grouped into species C and two strains grouped into species D, and shared a clade with a type 17 reference strain. Human astrovirus dual-genotyping was successful for three strains, which identified as type 2 for both the serine protease and capsid types. A single rotavirus strain was genotyped for VP4 and VP7 and identified as G9P[6]. Only two sapovirus-positives were successfully genotyped as GI.2 and GIV.1, respectively. This study highlights the epidemiological importance of clinical surveillance in the geriatric population, acting as a cornerstone for future studies in South Africa. / Dissertation (MSc (Medical Virology))--University of Pretoria, 2019. / The dissertation is under embargo until September 2022. / National Research Foundation / Poliomyelitis Research Foundation / Medical Virology / MSc (Medical Virology) / Restricted

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2016-08-15T18:23:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação de Mestrado - Laryssa Grazielle Feitosa Lopes.pdf: 3825497 bytes, checksum: 189a92938693695aa9da55f90e2a6fbc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-15T18:23:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação de Mestrado - Laryssa Grazielle Feitosa Lopes.pdf: 3825497 bytes, checksum: 189a92938693695aa9da55f90e2a6fbc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-16 / Objetivo: Avaliar a ocorrência da violência sofrida pela pessoa idosa no município de Caruaru/PE. Método: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico, descritivo, quantitativo, de corte transversal. A população do estudo consistirá na totalidade dos dados obtidos/notificados de casos suspeitos ou confirmados, a partir do Sistema de informação de agravos notificáveis (SINAN), através do consolidado das fichas de notificação dos indivíduos com idade de 60 anos e/ou mais, que sofreram violência no período de 2009 a 2015. Para avaliar o perfil pessoal dos idosos vítimas de agressão, as características da violência sofrida, perfil do agressor e a evolução do caso, foram calculadas as frequências percentuais e construídas as distribuições de frequência dos casos de violência. Resultados: Os casos de violência, em sua totalidade (231), ocorreram e foram notificados na cidade de Caruaru/PE. O sexo masculino foi mais acometido (77,5%), a faixa etária mais prevalente foi de 60-69 anos, a etnia ignorada/branco (49,4%) seguida da parda (34,6%) e os casados sofreram mais violência (32,5%). No que se refere ao local da ocorrência foi prevalente a residência (80,5%), vítimas de lesões não autoprovocadas (83,1%), a violência física predominou (93,5%). O meio de agressão mais comum foi espancamento (44,1%), com dois ou mais envolvidos (68,8%). O agressor em sua maioria era o filho (47,6%), o sexo ignorado/branco prevaleceu (79,7%) seguido do masculino (17,3%), sem suspeita de álcool em grande parte (52,8%) e como evolução (89,6%) dos internos receberam alta. Conclusão: Por ser um estudo inédito na cidade de Caruaru, os dados apresentados poderão servir de base para a realização de intervenções necessárias a nível de promoção e prevenção da saúde deste seguimento populacional que está em crescimento e que necessita de ações lhes garantam mais qualidade de vida. / Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of violence against the elderly in the city of Caruaru / PE. Method: It is an epidemiological study, descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional. The study population will consist of all the data / notified of suspected or confirmed cases from SINAN (grievances Information System notifiable) through consolidated the reporting forms of individuals aged 60 years and / or more, who have experienced violence from 2009 to 2015. to assess the personal profile of the elderly victims of aggression, the characteristics of the violence suffered, offender’s profile and developments in the case, the percentage frequencies and constructed frequency distributions of cases were calculated violence. Results: Cases of violence in its entirety (231) occurred and were reported in the city of Caruaru / PE. Boys were more affected (77.5%), the most prevalent age group was 60-69 years, ethnicity ignored / white (49.4%) followed by brown (34.6%) and married suffered more violence (32.5%). With regard to the location of occurrence was the residence prevalent (80.5%), victims of non self-injuries (83.1%), physical violence predominated (93.5%). The most common means of aggression was beaten (44.1%), with two or more involved (68.8%). The attacker mostly was the son (47.6%), sex ign / White prevailed (79.7%) followed by the male (17.3%), without suspicion of alcohol in large part (52.8%) and how evolution (89.6%) of internal discharged. Conclusion: For being a pioneering study in the city of Caruaru, the data presented may serve as a basis for carrying out necessary interventions at the level of promotion and preventive health care, this population following that is growing and you need the stock them ensuring better quality of life.

Class of 2005 Abstract / Objectives: To determine if delivery of medications to an independent living facility increases patient adherence. Methods: Retrospective review of patient pharmacy refill records was completed using a data extraction form in order to calculate a number of days deviation from a projected refill date based on days supply. Data on the use of express pay, auto fill, and delivery service and payment type was collected as well as age and gender. Residents of The Fountains independent living facility were eligible to be included in this study if they had complete data in the pharmacy refill records for at least one scheduled maintenance medication taken for a continuous, three-month period. Results: There were 21 subjects in the delivery group and 18 in the pick-up group. Both groups were primarily women (76.2 percent and 61.1 percent respectively). Age was also similar (85.8 and 83.8, p=0.285). The delivery group had significantly more maintenance medications than the pick-up group (mean=2.8, SD=1.1 and mean=1.7, SD=1.1 respectively). Seven of the nine time deviations were greater for the pick-up group than for the delivery group (p= 0.09 for sign test). Implications: It appears that a delivery service can increase adherence, particularly in a population of advanced age.

There has been insufficient data available for suggesting a recommended dietary allowance for pantothenic acid in the elderly population. The purpose of this study was to determine the average dietary intake of pantothenic acid and correlate it with urinary excretions and the blood levels of this vitamin to assess the pantothenic acid status of the elderly population. A seven day diet record was obtained from 65 non-institutionalized and 26 institutionalized persons over 65 years of age assessed to be free of chronic diseases. A 24 hour urine specimen and a fasting blood sample was obtained from each study participant. An average of the seven day diet record was calculated to obtain the amount of pantothenic acid consumed per day. The averaged value calculated for dietary in-take was correlated with urinary excretion and blood levels of the vitamin. The amount of pantothenic acid ingested from vitamin supplements was also calculated. The total amount of pantothenic acid (dietary and vitamin sources) was correlated with urinary excretion levels and blood levels of the vitamin. The average dietary intake of pantothenic acid for the elderly population studied was 5.9 ± 1.4 mg/day. The average total intake of pantothenic acid (dietary and vitamin sources) was 10.3 ± 13.8 mg/day. The dietary intake of pantothenic acid ranged from 2.5 - 9.5 mg/day and the intake of pantothenic acid from vitamin plus dietary sources ranged from 2.5 - 122.4 mg/day. there was a low to moderate correlation between the intake of pantothenic acid and the urinary excretion of the vitamin and a low to moderate correlation between the intake levels and blood levels of pantothenic acid.

Recently, technology and its impact on aging has become an expanding field of inquiry among marketers, designers, and housing professionals. A major reason for this interest is that the use of technology can help older people who experience deteriorating health to live independently. Another reason stems from an increase in the elderly population. The purpose of this study was to investigate older people's attitudes toward adopting technology as it relates to homes that could improve the quality of life and assist in aging in place. Attitudes were examined in terms of perception and acceptance of residential technology. Data for this study were gathered by an online survey. Online questionnaires were distributed to the potential sample of 9,789 e-mail addresses through the Virginia Tech alumni list serve on February 2004. The response rate was 15.8% with 1,546 eligible responses returned by February 27. The majority of the sample for this study can be described as Caucasian, married men, age 55 to 64 with good or excellent health and a post graduate college education living in owned single-family detached homes. Chi-square, ANOVA, Pearson's correlations, and path analysis were employed to test hypothesized relationships. Nine hypotheses were proposed to examine the relationships of variables based on the research framework. Results from this study cannot be generalized to a national population because of the limitations of the sampling frame. Results, however, are significant in terms of the investigation of early computer adopters who are age 55 and older living independently. Their desire to age in place was not very different from the national population. Findings about the attitudes toward computer and Internet technology indicated that respondents had surprisingly similar attitudes. Age was revealed as an important factor for both the desire to age in place and attitudes toward residential technology as a direct effect. Future research should include people with various demographic backgrounds. In addition, the results of this study imply that differentiated marketing strategies should be recommended to reach older consumers. / Ph. D.

There is a national, state and local concern that focuses upon the rapid growth of our elder population as well as those within the cohort that suffer with mental illness. However, other than the numerous Alzheimer’s related headlines, there is little national or state consideration being given to non-dementia-related elder mental illnesses. The lack of existing mental health service programs to assist the elderly community merits attention. The Constructionist paradigm was the basis for this study, due to its reliance upon recognized leaders in the field engaging in an interactive group process. These leaders included politicians, governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and other community leaders. Outcomes from this study produced five action oriented initiatives: Leadership, Funding Campaign, Elder Sensitivity Campaign, Enhancement of Existing Programs, and New Program Expansion. These initiatives, if implemented, could drive change and positively affect the elderly population with mental illness within this central California county research site.

The elderly population have developed some resistance toward accepting community-based social services. Such resistance could be detrimental to the well-being of low-income seniors by hindering their chance of accessing services intended for them in the first place. Art therapy is seen as a promising intervention against client resistance. This study evaluated the effectiveness of art therapy on reducing resistance to services among low-income seniors living in independent living communities. Through a pre-experimental design, this study analyzed administrative data for a sample of 37 participants from a social service agency in Southern California. Results from two non-parametric tests (WilcoxonSigned-Rank and Mann-Whitney-U) revealed that art therapy is very effective in reducing resistance among seniors. Implications for gerontology and social services providers were discussed.

The study set out to determine the influenza vaccination rate and to identify factors important in the process of vaccination acceptance decision making for a group of the well elderly in the A.C.T. Prediction of vaccination acceptance was compared using three measures: stated behavioural intention, report of past vaccination acceptance and a multiattribute utility decision model. In this study no one method of prediction was obviously better than another. The most important findings of this study included the marked variations in vaccination rates based on type of residence of the group members. Of the 15 variables of the decision model, factors related to the infection of influenza and possible complications of influenza were seen as the most important factors by both acceptors and nonacceptors of the vaccine in making the decision to have the injection. These findings can be incorporated into an area vital for nursing intervention, the planning of nursing programmes of health promotion and health maintence for the well elderly population.

Introduction: The benefits of leisure-time physical activity on mental and physical health among older adults are well documented, but few studies have explored the association between depression and leisure-time physical activity within a theoretical framework. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to identify the association between depression and leisure-time physical activity among community-dwelling, Canadian adults aged 65 and older, using a modified version of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Method: The present study included a weighted sample of 3,785,145 community- dwelling, seniors aged 65 years or older who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey (Cycle 2.1). Univariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the cross-sectional association between depression-related disorders and leisure-time physical activity in the context of chronic physical conditions and psychosocial factors. Results: Older adults reporting depression-related disorders were less likely to participate in leisure-time physical activity after adjusting for relevant psychosocial factors (odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 0.76 to 0.79, p < 0.001). This association was partially mediated by activity limitations associated with depression-related disorders. Similar results were observed between chronic physical conditions and participation in leisure-time physical activity. Conclusion: Although the present study was unable to identify the temporal relationships among study variables, the results provide clinicians who care for older adults with depression and/or chronic physical diseases with potentially useful information on the benefits of physical activity. They also provide evidence in support of community-based exercise or leisure-time physical activity program for seniors who are physically inactive to prevent chronic mental or physical illnesses and reduced quality of life