Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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Comparative Study
Screening for preexisting cognitive impairment in older intensive care unit patients: use of proxy assessment.
To determine the prevalence of preexisting cognitive impairment (CI) in patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) and compare two different proxy measures of preexisting CI in ICU patients. ⋯ There is a high prevalence of preexisting CI in patients admitted to the medical ICU. Both the MBDRS and IQCODE can be used to screen for preexisting CI in situations where direct patient assessment is not feasible. Future studies are needed to address physician recognition of CI and its effect on patient care decisions and outcomes.
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To review published reports of interventions for caregivers (CGs) of persons with dementia, excluding respite care, and provide recommendations to clinicians. ⋯ Some CG interventions can reduce CG psychological morbidity and help people with dementia stay at home longer. Programs that involve the patients and their families and are more intensive and modified to CGs' needs may be more successful. Future research should try to improve clinicians' abilities to prescribe interventions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Efficacy of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults.
To determine the efficacy of a complementary analgesic modality, percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), for the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) in community-dwelling older adults. ⋯ This preliminary study suggests that PENS may be a promising treatment modality for community-dwelling older adults with CLBP, as demonstrated by reduction in pain intensity and self-reported disability, and improvement in mood, life control, and physical performance. Larger studies with longer duration of follow-up are needed to validate these findings and support the use of PENS in clinical practice.
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Comparative Study
Validation of the five-item geriatric depression scale in elderly subjects in three different settings.
To test the effectiveness of a five-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for the screening of depression in community-dwelling older subjects, hospitalized older patients, and nursing home residents. ⋯ The five-item GDS is as effective as the 15-item GDS for the screening of depression in cognitively intact older subjects.