Meryl Brod

A clinical trial of the effectiveness of regularly scheduled versus as-needed administration of acetaminophen in the management of discomfort in older adults with dementia.

Objectives: To determine in a sample of nursing home patients with dementia and a painful condition whether the regularly scheduled administration of acetaminophen (650 mg four times a day (qid)) was more or less effective than as‐needed (prn) administration of acetaminophen in reducing discomfort.

Joiners and non-joiners in smoking treatment: A comparison of psychosocial variables

Treatment joiners were differentiated from non-joiners in a smoking cessation clinic. Subjects were 108 smokers who attended an orientation session for a smoking cessation program. The primary variable of interest was perceived self-efficacy. Other variables studied were demographic characteristics, tobacco and drug use, anxiety, and health locus of control. Non-joiners were found to be more anxious, less educated, and had a lower self-efficacy expectation than treatment joiners.

Humor and well-being in spouse caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease

The relationship between the use of humor and well-being was studied in a convenience sample of 96 elderly spouse caregivers of community-residing patients with Alzheimers disease (AD). Using hierarchical multiple regression analysis and controlling for severity of illness, caregiver education, and income, the use of humor accounted for 18.2% (p < .001) of variance in caregiver well-being. Caregivers of patients with advanced AD symptoms used less humor and had more psychological distress than those caregivers of patients who had mild symptoms. Because humor helps to maintain a sense of well-being, nurses should develop and encourage the use of humor in the spouse caregiver population.

A Club of Friends: Enrolling Nursing Home Residents in an Adult Day Program

OBJECTIVE To evaluate an innovative approach to maintaining physical, cognitive, and social functioning in frail, elderly nursing home residents at risk for transfer from a minimal care unit. SUBJECTS/SETTING Nineteen Russian-speaking residents of the Jewish Home in San Francisco who were newly enrolled in an on-site adult day care program. METHODS A formal evaluation of the program employed a repeated measures design with assessments at baseline and at Months 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9. Outcomes included stability of living situation, functional status, physical and mental health, cognitive functioning, sense of well-being and quality of life, and satisfaction with the program. RESULTS During this period, the cohort was medically stable and, although some evidenced cognitive decline, there was little change in their functional status. Nearly all of the residents reported improvement from baseline in some aspects of their lives, with the greatest proportions reporting positive changes in social support and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this evaluation suggest that activities programming using the model described here may enhance the quality of life for some nursing home residents and enable them to remain in the least restrictive, as well as the least costly, living situation possible.