Talleres sobre problemas de salud prevalentes con personas integradas en grupos de trabajo en centros de mayores / Workshops on prevalent health issues with people involved in working groups in centres for the elderly

Objetivo: Evaluar cambios en conocimientos de personas mayores que participan en talleres sobre temas de salud. Diseño del estudio: Estudio “antes-después”. Emplazamiento: Comunitario. Participantes: Personas integradas en grupos de trabajo en dos centros de mayores. Intervención: Se programaron intervenciones educativas sobre gripe, osteoporosis y riesgo cardiovascular (RCV). Previo consentimiento informado, los participantes contestaron un cuestionario de conocimientos, datos sociodemográficos y estado general de salud. A continuación se exponía el tema por uno de los miembros del grupo investigador. Se terminaba con un cuestionario postest. Mediciones principales: Variables sociodemográficas, de conocimientos sobre los temas tratados y estado general de salud. Resultados: En el taller sobre gripe participaron 24 personas. Antes del taller 45,8 % conocían los síntomas, 25 % decía que conocía la prevención; después el 58,3 % (NS) y el 70,8 % (p=0,001), respectivamente. En el de osteoporosis participaron 37. Antes del taller, 59,5 % decía conocer algo sobre osteoporosis, y 89,2 % sabían que afecta a los huesos. Conocían la importancia de consumir lácteos 75,7 %. Tras el taller se planteaban cambios: alimentación (13,5 %), ejercicio (18,9 %), visitas a su médico (27 %), varios aspectos (13,5 %). En el de RCV participaron 19. Antes del taller, 57,9 % había oído sobre factores de RCV, aunque 84,2 % no sabía nombrarlos. Tras el taller se redujo en un 50 % las personas que no sabían dar el nombre de algún factor de RCV (p=0,021). Conclusiones: Los conocimientos de las personas participantes en los talleres mejoraban después de los mismos, para los diferentes temas tratados (AU)

Objective: To evaluate changes in knowledge of elderly people who take part in workshops on health issues. Study Design: Before and after study. Participants: People involved in working groups in two centres for the elderly. Procedure: Educational interventions about influenza, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular risk were programmed. Subject to prior informed consent, the participants answered a questionnaire about previous knowledge, sociodemographic data, and overall health. Then, one of the members of the research group explained a subject. To conclude, a post-test questionnaire was completed. Main measurements: Variables related to sociodemographic features, knowledge of the topics discussed, and overall health. Results: 24 people took part in the workshop on influenza. Before the workshop, 45,8% knew the symptoms, 25% said they knew about its prevention. After the workshop, 58,3% (NS) and 70,8% (p=0,001), respectively. Conclusions: People participating in the workshops improved their knowledge of the topics Discussed (AU)

Examination of costs for a lay health educator-delivered translation of the Diabetes Prevention Program in senior centers.

OBJECTIVE: Older adults in the U.S. have high rates of obesity. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of lifestyle interventions among older adults, lifestyle interventions are not widely implemented in community settings. Program delivery by lay health educators (LHEs) might support greater dissemination because of lower delivery cost and greater accessibility. We examined the costs of a LHE-delivered translation of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) evidence-based lifestyle intervention for older adults in Arkansas senior centers. METHODS: This examination of costs used data from a cluster randomized control trial (conducted 2008-2010) in which 7 senior centers (116 participants) were randomized to implement a LHE-delivered 12-session translation of the DPP lifestyle intervention. We compiled direct lifestyle intervention implementation costs, including training, recruitment, materials, and ongoing intervention implementation support. Weight loss data (at 4-month follow-up) were collected from participants. RESULTS: Participant weight loss averaged 3.7kg at 4-months. The total estimated cost to implement the lifestyle intervention is $2731 per senior center, or $165 per participant. The implementation cost per kilogram lost is $45. CONCLUSIONS: A LHE-delivered DPP translation in senior centers is effective in achieving weight loss at low cost and offers promise for the dissemination of this evidence-based intervention.

Older adults are mobile too!Identifying the barriers and facilitators to older adults' use of mHealth for pain management.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) is a rapidly emerging field with the potential to assist older adults in the management of chronic pain (CP) through enhanced communication with providers, monitoring treatment-related side effects and pain levels, and increased access to pain care resources. Little is currently known, however, about older adults' attitudes and perceptions of mHealth or perceived barriers and facilitators to using mHealth tools to improve pain management. METHODS: We conducted six focus groups comprised of 41 diverse older adults (≥60 years of age) with CP. Participants were recruited from one primary care practice and two multiservice senior community day-visit centers located in New York City that serve older adults in their surrounding neighborhoods. Focus group discussions were recorded and transcribed, and transcriptions were analyzed using direct content analysis to identify and quantify themes. RESULTS: Focus group discussions generated 38 individual themes pertaining to the use of mHealth to help manage pain and pain medications. Participants had low prior use of mHealth (5% of participants), but the vast majority (85%) were highly willing to try the devices. Participants reported that mHealth devices might help them reach their healthcare provider more expeditiously (27%), as well as help to monitor for falls and other adverse events in the home (15%). Barriers to device use included concerns about the cost (42%) and a lack of familiarity with the technology (32%). Facilitators to device use included training prior to device use (61%) and tailoring devices to the functional needs of older adults (34%). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that older adults with CP are interested and willing to use mHealth to assist in the management of pain. Participants in our study reported important barriers that medical professionals, researchers, and mHealth developers should address to help facilitate the development and evaluation of age-appropriate, and function-appropriate, mHealth devices for older persons with CP.