Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of acetaminophen on behavior, well-being, and psychotropic medication use in nursing home residents with moderate-to-severe dementia.
To evaluate the effect of regularly scheduled administration of analgesic medication on behavior, emotional well-being, and use of as-needed psychotropic medications in nursing home residents with moderate-to-severe dementia. ⋯ Untreated pain inhibits activity in nursing home residents with moderate-to-severe dementia. Pain treatment in this group may facilitate engagement with the environment.
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Multicenter Study
Physicians' assessments of adjuvant tamoxifen's effectiveness in older patients with primary breast cancer.
To examine physicians' assessments of tamoxifen effectiveness in breast cancer patients, identify predictors of these assessments, and estimate the relationship between these assessments and receipt of tamoxifen prescription. ⋯ Estrogen receptor status most strongly influenced physicians' assessments of tamoxifen's effectiveness in individual patients; this effectiveness was not found to be associated with advancing patient age. Estrogen receptor status and enrollment site were related to receipt of tamoxifen prescription, but advancing age was not after accounting for physician's individualized assessment of tamoxifen's effectiveness. These findings suggest that an evidence-based approach for hormonal therapy has been widely adopted for care of older patients with breast cancer.
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To evaluate the association between dementia and mortality, adverse health events, and discharge disposition of newly admitted nursing home residents. It was hypothesized that residents with dementia would die at a higher rate and develop more adverse health events (e.g., infections, fevers, pressure ulcers, falls) than residents without dementia because of communication and self-care difficulties. ⋯ Newly admitted nursing home residents with dementia have a profile of health events that is distinct from that of residents without dementia, indicating that the two groups have different long-term care needs. Results suggest that further investigation of whether residents with dementia can be well managed in alternative residential settings would be valuable.
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Letter Comparative Study
A comparison of gait assessment methods: Tinetti and GAITRite electronic walkway.