Factor affecting the activities of daily living among aging people during the COVID-19 pandemic - a structural equation modelling.

Introduction: The activities of daily living (ADLs) are a set of basic skills necessary for self-care. The inability of elderly people to perform ADLs leads to dependence, insecure conditions, and poor quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of the daily life of the elderly. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with ADLs among elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic using structural equation modelling/path analysis. Material and methods: It was a descriptive-analytical study which had conducted on 487 elderly people who were selected randomly to participate in the study. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire, an activities of daily living questionnaire, a knee pain and personal performance questionnaire Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC), and the falls efficacy scale, which were completed by interview and self-report methods. SPSS-22 and AMOS software were used for data analysis. Results: Two structures of the fear of falling (FOF) and knee pain and personal performance questionnaire WOMAC had a significant role in explaining the ADL variance among the studied elderly people (p < 0.001, root mean square error of approximation = 0.063). These variables explained 64% of the ADL variance. Conclusions: The structures of this model (FOF and WOMAC) can be used as a reference framework to design effective interventions for improving ADLs among elderly people during the COVID-19 epidemic. It is also recommended that a multi-component program be provided, which includes exercise and psychological strategies for this population during the COVID-19 pandemic through online videos, distance health programs, etc.

The effect of the training program on the quality of life in patients with asthma based on the Precede model in Ahvaz, Iran.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the training program based on the Precede model and its main components on improving the quality of life in patients with asthma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was a randomized quasi-experimental study done on 120 patients with asthma who were referred to the Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahvaz who were selected using the convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The data collection tool consisted of two questionnaires. The first questionnaire evaluated the quality of life in patients with asthma and the other one was developed by the researcher based on the structures of the Precede model. Training intervention was conducted during four sessions twice a week and each session was carried out for an hour based on the structures of the Precede model. In order to achieve the results, SPSS software, even t-test, and χ2 were used. RESULTS: The results showed that after the training intervention in the experimental group, the mean scores of predisposing factors (p < 0.001), enabling factors, reinforcing factors and behavioral factors were significantly increased (p < 0.001) as compared to the control group. A significant difference was observed in the mean scores of quality of life in two groups after the intervention (p < 0.001), and the quality of life of patients in the experimental group was improved after the training intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The design and implementation of the training program based on the Precede model can have a positive effect on the improvement of quality of life in patients with asthma.