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Introduction: While elderly people enter the hospital in biological crisis, family caregivers enter the hospital in psychological crisis. But professional caregivers haven’t adequate knowledge of family caregivers' experiences. Therefore they forget that family caregivers are in suffering equally. Since suffering is a significant concept in nursing science and knowing and comprehending sources of suffering in family caregivers by professional caregivers is very important, this study is done to describe the nature and structure of sources of suffering in family caregivers of hospitalized elderly patients. Materials and Methods: This is a qualitative study with phenomenological method. Population of the research is all elderly patients' families that were hospitalized in one of the hospitals of Isfahan University of medical sciences. Sampling method was purposive and continued until data saturation. The numbers of participants are 12. Data were gathered through in-dept interview and data analysis done by “Parse” method that was not used in Iran. Results: The finding of this research is summarized in these core concepts: Patients and therapeutic interventions as source of suffering, hospital as source of suffering, disturbance in family and social life as source of suffering, self neglect as source of suffering. These concepts will be discussed in the full article. Conclusion: Participants' experiences reflect the need for planning interventions such as developing supportive groups, providing facility and instruments and continuous support for family caregivers during hospital stay. Also results show that educational programs are necessary for effective adaptation in family caregivers.

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Background: The most important determinant factor in elder’s quality of life is healthy. Since health can be declined by aging, in health promotion consider an effective model of care can be vey important. We surveyed the effect of Orem Self Care Model on quality of life (QOL) of elderly in Masjed Solaiman. Methods and Materials: This is a pre and post quasi-experimental study was carried out on 349 elderly clients which were selected from 11 health care centers in Masjed Solaiman in 2007-2008. Orem Self Care program was performed during a 3 months in days that the clients came to health care centers. Data were gathered by a short form questionnaire (SF36) before and after the intervention and was analyzed by descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results: Results showed a significant increase in mean scores of different dominations of QOL including health, physical performance, physical role- performance, emotional role- performance, social performance, body pain, power and energy, general health perception, and overall mean of QOL. Paired t-test showed a significant difference (p<0.001) between all of dominations of the quality of life. Conclusion: Performing Orem Self Care educational program had a positive influence on improving QOL of elderly.

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Background: Self-medication is one of the existing problems in the treatment cycle of patients that with aging and increased drug use, its side effects increase. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing self-medication among elderly urban centers in Zarandieh based on Health Belief Model Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 elderly individuals (95 females and 85 males) over 60 in Zarandieh. Data collection tools were a questionnaire designed based on HBM model (perceived susceptibility/ severity, and perceived benefits/barriers) and self-medication checklist. Results: The prevalence of self- medication in the elderly was 31% (33% women and 29% men). The most common reasons for self-medication were previous experience of the disease and its recognition (61%), availability of drugs (60.5%), and good result of their previous treatment (56.7%). There was a significant difference in awareness, sensitivity, severity, perceived benefits and barriers among people with or without self-medication history (P< 001). Conclusion: Noticing the side effects of drugs and the high prevalence of self-medication among elderly, designing educational programs for changing the awareness and beliefs of elderly regarding self-medication is recommended.

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Background: In recent years, changes in the composition of Iranian population into aged population have increased the need for more information about the quality of life (QOL) of this group. Proper planning for this age group for increasing their quality of life depends on the identification of factors associated with QOL. The aim of the current study was to assess the quality of life and its relationship with the quality of diet in elderly people aged 60 years and more living in the urban areas of Markazi province. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 165 elderly people in the urban areas of Markazi Province in 2010. Data obtained via general and QOL (SF-36) questionnaires and three 24-hour recalls on food. The quality of diet was measured using Healthy Eating index. Results: The means of total SF-36, physical and mental components scores were 55.66, 51.32 and 57.30, respectively. Additionally, the average overall healthy eating index score was 82.83. The results showed that the total, physical, and mental components of SF-36 scores in the elderly were positively associated with the healthy eating index but not significantly (P=0.2). QOL and diet scores were significantly associated with age, sex, education, previous employment, income, leisure activities, exercise, insurance, smoking, present disease, and drug consumption (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the QOL in the elderly was not related to their quality of diet.

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Background: Nowadays, the elderly population is growing all over the world. Diseases and conditions resulting from this evolutionary process can severely affect the quality of life of the elderly. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of educational programs of healthy lifestyle on the quality of life of the elderly in Arak city.

Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental was carried out on 60 elderly subjects in Arak city. The subjects participated in classes on nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, and life skills for a month and they were followed for three months after intervention. Data were collected by the short form quality of life (SF-36) in elderly.

Results: The mean score of quality of life was 61.06±7.42. The highest mean was associated with social health (74.5±15) while the lowest mean was for physical health (46±17). In terms of quality of life indicators before educational intervention, four categories emerged: poor (13.3%), medium (30%), good (41.7%), and high (15%). After intervention, the majority of the samples fell in the good (38.3%) and high (45%) categories. There was a significant difference before and after the educational intervention (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Education to elderly about the healthy lifestyle practices can prevent a lot of problems and help them to improve their quality of life. Therefore, classroom education is fruitful for this group that is often neglected.

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Background: Use of inappropriate drugs in the elderly is a major health care concern. It is likely to increase adverse drug reactions and induce a substantial increase in health care costs. The aim of study was to evaluate inappropriate drug use in the elderly.

Materials and  Methods: In this cross-sectional study, collecting data were collected from patient’s file for 260 patients aged 60 years who were admitted to Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital in 2012. Potentially inappropriate medications were identified based on the 2012 Beers criteria.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 75±8.3 years. Overall, 58(22.3%) of the patients were treated with potentially inappropriate medications. The most common inappropriately prescribed medications were benzodiazepines, pethidine, and TCAs.

Conclusion: To improve prescription quality in elderly patients in Iran, preparing a scientific criterion or guideline is necessary.

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Background: The growing elderly population in Iran and the association of aging with the high prevalence of physical and mental disorders have increased the necessity of determining quality of life of this age group. The quality of life of elderly women is affected by several factors due to their vulnerability. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the quality of life of elderly women in Arak.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 271 elderly women who lived in Arak in 2013 using classified sampling. Data were obtained via general QOL (SF-36) questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 67.5±7.02 years. The mean (±SD) total scores of SF-36, mental health, and physical health dimensions were 50.22±18.39, 58.54±19.38, and 46.35±20.82, respectively. The mean (±SD) score of eight dimensions of QOL were: general health 45.52±10.79, social function 56.58±24.94, physical pain 47.60±28.27, physical function 51.46±27.05, physical limitation 38.10±42.67, emotional problems 46.22±42.11, vitality 50.16±19.09, and mental health 58.54±19.38. There were significant difference between QOL, marriage, and income (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The results showed that the quality of life in this study was average and some factors, such as education, income, marriage, and residential situation, have a direct influence on QOL.

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Background: According to the Erikson`s generativity vs staqnation theory this study examines the impact of old women transition experiences on depression, feel aging and physical changes in rehabilitation institute of charity in Arak.

Materials and Methods: In this quasi- experimental study, 30 elderly women living in nursing homes aged over 65 years and tested geriatric depression score of 9 and above earned were selected and randomly divided into two groups of 15 people .one group was selected as control and the other test group. Questionnaires included: geriatric depression questionnaire, feel Aging questionnaire and physical changes. program experience with that already was set to be repeated during ten sessions on group test. finally independent and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Although ten sessions to transfer the experience were able aging feeling and depressed elderly women reduce but the decrease was not significant between the test and control groups, as well as reduced physical changes between test and control groups were not significant.

Conclusion: The lack of suitable components severely needed to establish an effective interaction model for hinder the effectiveness of the meetings was to conduct experiments requiring more study.

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Background: Cancer in the elderly is rising increasingly. According to the population structure in Iran, it is necessary to conduct a study to examine the epidemiology and trends in cancer incidence in the elderly in Iran. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and trends in cancer incidence in Iranian elderly from 2003 to 2009.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by analyzing existing data obtained from the National Cancer Registry System in Iran. In this stucly, all records of elderly cancer cases in Iran during 2003 to 2009 were investigated. The age- specific incidence rates of reported cases were estimated by using direct standardization method and the world standard population. We used Cochrane Armitage Test for linear trend by Winpepi software to study the trends in cancer incidence.

Results: stuolying statistics of Cancer Registry center shows that the incidence of cancer increases with age and most cases of cancer occur commonly in elderly people (aged over 60), so that, the highest number of cancer cases diagnosed in people aged 80-84, but it decreases after the age of 85. The most common cancer among the elders, in this period (2003-2009), was the skin cancer. Also, according to the statistics, cancers are more prevalent among older men than older women.

Conclusion: with due attention to the results, the trend of incidence of cancer and its various types in the elders is increasing with age. The implementation of screening programs and necessary trainings in the field of early detection and the avoidance of exposure to risk factors to reduce the risk of cancer in Iranian elderly can be useful.

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Abstract

Background: In the modern societies, the seniors are as one of the growing social groups that according to the age pyramid have increasingly become important. Accordingly, this study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the effectiveness of protocol based on integrated view on reducing psychological distress in the elderly.

Materials and Methods: The type of this study was semi-experimental with pre-test post-test plan along with the control group. The statistical population includes all elderly that referred to Karaj Takht-e Jamshid hospital in the second half of the year 2016. Among them, 30 people were selected in form of available; then, randomly were placed in two 15 people experimental and control groups. Control group were treated based on integrated view protocol (three combination therapies consisting of cognitive- behavioral therapy, spiritual therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy). In this research, the short form questionnaire of psychological distress (DASS) was used for gathering the data in two stages of pre-test and post-test. The data were analyzed by using SPSS19 software and was analyzed by the covariance analysis method.

Results: The results of covariance analysis showed that the protocol based on integrated view has led to the statistical significant difference (p<0.05) between the pre-test and post-test stages in the psychological distress score.

Conclusion: According to the obtained results, the protocol-based on integrated view can be used as a proper and effective treatment method for the reduction of psychological distress in seniors.

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Introduction: Today, the increasing prevalence of diabetes and its complications in the elderly is one of the most challenging problems in the health sector. One of the most important strategies for managing diabetes in the elderly is teaching self-care behaviors, which requires competent nurses in the field of diabetes education. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of empowering nurses on self-care and HbA1c control of elderly people with type 2 diabetes living in nursing homes.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted as a single group on 32 nurses and 30 elderly people with type 2 diabetes residing in nursing homes by convenience sampling. Nurses participated in a one-day empowerment workshop on type 2 diabetes. Data collection tools were a researcher-made questionnaire of workshop content to measure nurses' empowerment, Tobert and Glasgow self-care questionnaire and laboratory index HbA1c for the elderly. Data were analyzed using Spss version 20 at the 0.05 level. The present research has been registered with the ethics code IR.IAU.KHUISF.REC.1398.190 in the Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University - Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan).
Results: Based on the findings, there was a significant difference between nurses' empowerment after the workshop compared to before (P=0.001). The mean scores of elderly before and three months after nurses' empowerment were significant in terms of self-care behaviors (P=0.000) and HbA1c index (P=0.000).
Conclusions: The results showed that the empowerment of nurses has desirable potential to change the outcomes of self-care in elderly people with type 2 diabetes resident in nursing homes, and by focusing on the approach of empowering nurses, positive steps can be taken in the management of diabetes and HbA1c of this group.
 

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Introduction: The growing increase in the elderly population requires more research to identify the health priorities of this group, especially in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the current study was conducted to determine the influential components of marital satisfaction and its relationship with lifestyle in Urmia City in 2021.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional correlational study, 220 married elderly living in Urmia were selected through cluster sampling. The Miler's life satisfaction and Haynes's marital satisfaction questionnaires were used in addition to the demographic questionnaire to collect data in this research. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests (mean and standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) and analytical (Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression) at a significant level of P ≤ 0.05.
Results: A step-by-step multiple linear regression model also revealed that variables of lifestyle (ß = -0.364), age (ß = 0.425), number of children (ß = 0.143), occupation (ß = 0.425) and illness (ß = 3.608) - had the most considerable contribution in the sensitive prediction of marital satisfaction. The regression model excluded other demographic variables.
Conclusions: This study showed that lifestyle and demographic variables such as age, number of children, occupation, and illness have the greatest contribution in predicting marital satisfaction. Therefore, it seems necessary to design counseling services in comprehensive health centers for this group so that counselors can teach healthy lifestyles to older adults to improve marital relationships.