Sunghee H. Tak

Computer, Internet, and E-mail Use Among Older Adults: Benefits and Barriers

An increasing number of older adults are using computers for communication, entertainment, and information. This descriptive study examined the perceived benefits and barriers encountered by 58 older adults. Benefits of computer use listed by these elders included a sense of connectedness, satisfaction, utility, and positive learning experiences. Barriers included frustration, physical and mental limitations, mistrust, and time issues. Professionals who teach and care for older adults need to be aware of the characteristics of older computer users. They also need to know the perceived barriers and benefits of computer, Internet, and e-mail use in order to tailor education and interventions to this population.

Use of the Internet for health information by older adults with arthritis.

BACKGROUND Despite the information available on the Internet and the increasing number of older adults who use the Internet, little is known about Internet use for health information by elders with arthritis. PURPOSE The purposes of this study were (1) to examine the use of computers and the Internet by elders with arthritis and (2) to describe demographic and illness-related characteristics of elders who use the Internet to find health information. SAMPLE Seventy-one elders with arthritis completed survey questionnaires. FINDINGS Twenty-eight percent had a computer in their home, of whom 95% had Internet access. Thirty-nine percent sought arthritis information on the Internet. People with more education were more likely to use the Internet. However, age and functional disability resulting from arthritis were not associated with Internet use. IMPLICATIONS Health professionals need to be aware of Internet resources and assist elders in finding appropriate Internet-based arthritis information.

Patient valuation of pharmacist services for self care with OTC medications

Background and Objectives:  The objectives of this study were to determine whether patients would be willing to pay for pharmacist self‐care services on proper use of over‐the‐counter medications. In addition, we examined whether patients’ willingness to pay was associated with community pharmacy setting and patients’ socio‐economic factors.

Life satisfaction and its correlates in older women with osteoarthritis.

Purpose To identify the relationships among functional disability, chronic daily stress, coping strategies, beliefs about personal control, social support, and life satisfaction in older women with osteoarthritis. Design A descriptive, correlational design was used. Sample The study participants were 107 women aged 60 years or older. Method Study participants completed six survey questionnaires and a demographic form. Findings Bivariate correlational analyses showed that older women with poorer functional ability experienced greater chronic daily stress, reported more frequent use of emotion-focused coping strategies, and had a higher chance health locus of control. A hierarchic regression analysis revealed that the perceived social support and internal health locus of control significantly contributed to the prediction of life satisfaction after demographic, illness-related, and stress-related variables were controlled. Implications Stress management strategies matched to the participants’ style of coping process can increase their sense of control over their health and enhance their social networks and activities.

Activity Engagement: Perspectives from Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Engagement in social and leisure activities is an indicator of quality of life and well-being in nursing homes. There are few studies in which nursing home residents with dementia self-reported their experiences in activity engagement. This qualitative study describes types of current activity involvement and barriers to activities as perceived by nursing home residents with dementia. Thirty-one residents participated in short, open-ended interviews and six in in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis showed that participants primarily depended on activities organized by their nursing homes. Few participants engaged in self-directed activities such as walking, visiting other residents and family members, and attending church services. Many residents felt they had limited opportunities and motivation for activities. They missed past hobbies greatly but could not continue them due to lack of accommodation and limitation in physical function. Environmental factors, along with a fixed activity schedule, further prevented them from engaging in activities. Residents with dementia should be invited to participate in activity planning and have necessary assistance and accommodation in order to engage in activities that matter to them. Based on the findings, a checklist for individualizing and evaluating activities for persons with dementia is detailed.

An insider perspective of daily stress and coping in elders with arthritis.

BACKGROUND Elders living with arthritis perceive chronic daily stress associated with a loss of function. Daily stress has a significant effect on the prediction of depression and decreased life satisfaction in older persons. However, little is known about the nature of the daily stress and coping process from their personal viewpoint. PURPOSE This study explores stressors in daily life, coping strategies, and social support resources from the perspective of older adults with arthritis. METHODS Thirteen older adults with arthritis participated in semistructured, individual interviews. Content analysis of the interview transcriptions was used. FINDINGS Results revealed six sources of stress in the daily life of the participants: health, routine tasks, family issues, financial management, social relationships, and living conditions. Three major strategies of coping with daily stress emerged: cognitive efforts, diversional activities, and assertive actions. Participants reported a wide range of support resources to deal with daily stress. CONCLUSION Recommendations for health professionals in assisting clients to minimize the impact of daily stress on mental health by assessing the sources of stress, improving cognitive–behavioral coping techniques, and locating resources are given.

Technology for Long-Term Care

Severe staff shortages in long-term care (LTC) make it difficult to meet the demands of the growing aging population. Further, technology-savvy Baby Boomers are expected to reshape the current institutional environments toward gaining more freedom and control in their care and lives. Voices from business, academia, research, advocacy organizations, and government bodies suggest that innovative technological approaches are the linchpin that may prepare society to cope with these projected demands. In this article, we review the current state of aging-related technology, identify potential areas for efficacy testing on improving the quality of life of LTC residents in future research, and discuss barriers to implementation of LTC technology. Finally, we present a vision of future technology use that could transform current care practices.

The impact of patient knowledge of patient-centered medication label content on quality of life among older adults

BACKGROUND Prescription drugs have made great contributions to health and quality of life (QOL). However, inappropriate use of drugs may result in just the opposite effect. Older adults often take multiple medications simultaneously and thus are more vulnerable to inappropriate drug use. Knowledge of important aspects of medication use might reduce the risk of inappropriate utilization and improve QOL. OBJECTIVE To determine the extent of patient knowledge concerning patient-centered contents of medication labels (PCCMLs) and whether level of patient knowledge is associated with health outcomes. METHODS A survey was administered to members of 6 senior centers in Memphis, TN, USA. Surveys from older adults (65 or older) who were taking at least 1 medication were included in the current analyses (N=287). QOL was measured using the Euroqual EQ-5D and the Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). Older adults reported their knowledge of PCCML on a set of 4 Likert-type scale items concerning the PCCMLs. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and linear regression. RESULTS Study participants scored on average 16.20 (standard deviation [SD]=3.41) for knowledge of PCCML. Patient knowledge of PCCML was associated with age (r(s)=-0.1469, P=.0127), race/ethnicity (F=4.40, P=.0131), education (r(s)=0.1984, P=.0007), and household income (r(s)=0.1539, P=.0159). Study participants had an average EQ-5D score of 0.82 (SD=0.16) and EQ-VAS score of 77.80 (SD=15.07). Multivariate linear regression results showed that 1 unit increase in patient knowledge resulted in 0.62 unit increase (P=.017) in EQ-VAS QOL scores after adjusting for the impact of other variables. However, patient knowledge of PCCML did not significantly predict EQ-5D QOL scores (β^=0.002, P=.4633) when all other variables were controlled. CONCLUSION Patient knowledge of medication use was associated with QOL among older adults. New standardized labels should be designed to improve patient knowledge of PCCML information. Furthermore, providers of medication therapy management should ensure that older adults have a complete knowledge of the PCCML information.

Computer Activities for Persons With Dementia

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The study examined participants experience and individual characteristics during a 7-week computer activity program for persons with dementia. DESIGN AND METHODS The descriptive study with mixed methods design collected 612 observational logs of computer sessions from 27 study participants, including individual interviews before and after the program. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlational coefficients, t-test, and chi-square. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. RESULTS Each participant averaged 23 sessions and 591min for 7 weeks. Computer activities included slide shows with music, games, internet use, and emailing. On average, they had a high score of intensity in engagement per session. Women attended significantly more sessions than men. Higher education level was associated with a higher number of different activities used per session and more time spent on online games. Older participants felt more tired. Feeling tired was significantly correlated with a higher number of weeks with only one session attendance per week. More anticholinergic medications taken by participants were significantly associated with a higher percentage of sessions with disengagement. The findings were significant at p < .05. Qualitative content analysis indicated tailoring computer activities appropriate to individuals needs and functioning is critical. All participants needed technical assistance. IMPLICATIONS A framework for tailoring computer activities may provide guidance on developing and maintaining treatment fidelity of tailored computer activity interventions among persons with dementia. Practice guidelines and education protocols may assist caregivers and service providers to integrate computer activities into homes and aging services settings.

Reliability and validity of motivation for sexual health.

The Health Self-Determinism Index-Sexual (HSDI-S) is a modification of the HSDI (a measure of motivation of health). Psychometric evaluation was needed to determine the usefulness of the HSDI-S as a measure of motivation of sexual health. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the HSDI-S. Three unique samples of HSDI-S scores were evaluated using principal component and maximum likelihood factor analyses with a Varimax rotation. Items that loaded on each of the factors were similar across all three samples. Factor analyses revealed two dimensions of the HSDI-S: self-directed and partner-directed motivation, which is discussed within the context of relationships. The ranges of internal consistency reliability coefficients across the samples were satisfactory for the HSDI-S (.74-.82) and for the two dimensions (.66-.77). Reliability and construct validity of the HSDI-S across three diverse samples was supported.