Nursing research
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Randomized trial of geragogy-based medication instruction in the emergency department.
Medication adherence by older adults who are discharged from the emergency department (ED) is an essential attribute of effective treatment. Researchers have demonstrated that delivery of well-structured instructions increases the knowledge of discharge regimens and increases adherence among ED populations. ⋯ These findings suggest that a medication teaching intervention geared to the special needs of the elderly can be effective in increasing medication knowledge.
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Decline in functional ability as a consequence of medical illness or surgery has been associated with the development of depressive symptoms in older patients. Little is known about the influence of psychological variables on the relationship between postoperative functional ability and depressive symptoms in older adults. Inclusion of perceived self-efficacy in a theoretical model of the relationship of functional ability and depressive symptoms would extend knowledge and inform health care providers about specific risk factors for the development of postoperative depressive symptoms in older elective surgery patients. ⋯ The findings suggest that interventions to enhance older patients' perceived self-efficacy while hospitalized after elective total hip replacement surgery may enhance functional ability, which in turn may decrease the likelihood of depressive symptoms postoperatively.
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Prior research has documented the high prevalence of pain in elderly adults and the difficulties associated with properly assessing and treating pain in elders with cognitive impairment. ⋯ The findings highlight the difficulties of assessing pain in cognitively impaired elders and the lack of knowledge among health care providers about effective pain management.