Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ., Volume 5, Issue 1 (April 2015) – 13 articles , Pages 5-143

The Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis focuses on the possible influence of the emotional states on the decision making processes. An assessment tool derived form this theory is the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The aim of this study was to detect decision-making alterations in relation to the cognitive impairment associated to age (GDS 2). The data analysis was conducted from two perspectives: quantitative, by computing the advantageous versus disadvantageous choices; and qualitative, according to the PVL model parameters. Two groups were analyzed: one consisting of elderly women with cognitive impairment, and another, with no impairment. Regarding the quantitative analysis, the results show significant differences between both groups, indicating that women with cognitive impairment have less advantageous choices than women without impairment; however, from a qualitative point of view, the results show no significant differences between groups in any of the four parameters of the PVL, indicating that execution of women with and without cognitive impairment are similar. In conclusion, it can be argued that the decision-making processes in women with and without cognitive impairment are quantitatively different but qualitatively similar. Full article

This work was aimed to study the physiological cerebral aging from the analysis of functional electroencephalographic (EEG) connectivity between different cortical areas in two groups of healthy subjects between 50-65 years and between 66-80 years. With this purpose, digital monopolar EEG recordings were carried out at rest and closed eyes, taking as sampling rate, 256 Hz and as reference, the average of the 16 channels recorded (6-frontals, 4-temporals, 2-centrals, 2-parietal, 2-occipital). The functional cortical connectivity was estimated from the interdependence between channels using the coherence function in the frequency bands delta/theta/alpha/beta, and an index (L) of nonlinear generalized synchronization. The pairwise connectivity between all possible channels and a global connectivity between each channel and all others was computed. The results show that certain local interdependencies measured by the index L and by the delta band coherence, decreased with age; these were especially significant for the temporal-occipital-central connections. Moreover, a significant linear decrease with age of the interdependence indices aforementioned for the pair and local averages was observed. Also global interdependencies, especially those of nonlinear type, for certain central-lateral and posterior areas, decline with age. It is concludes that individual and global measures of EEG functional connectivity between certain brain areas can help to objectively evaluate the neurophysiological aging. Full article

In this paper are analyzed the effects of generativity on both perceived and objective health as well as the possible mediating role in this model of the structure of social relations. The participants are 168 people over 60 years old (83 men and 85 women). Obtained results indicate direct effects on health generativity. This influence persists even when is controlled the effect of structural aspects of social relations classified by the Convoy Relationship Model. Additionally, our results indicate a significant mediating effect of the relationship structure on the generativity-health axis. However, this mediating effect does not occur uniformly and consistently in the different circles of convoy relationships. Our data converge with previous research suggesting the importance of the relationship between generativity and health but going further because our simultaneous study of the structural aspects of social networks. Our results allow going further in the understanding of generativity-health relationship. Full article

Developing and trying to achieve a high quality in the service nursing personnel provide at nursing homes by means of implementing quality assurance systems is a topic of general interest nowadays. These systems have already proved to be effective in other fields. That is why the focus of this study is to analyse the most relevant effects due to the implementation of a quality assurance method based on standard UNE EN ISO 9001:2008 in the nursing service of four nursing homes. An analysis of more than 200 answers of a satisfaction survey about the nursing service at four nursing homes has been carried out. A study on the available bibliography about the results obtained after having implemented a quality assurance system in the nursing service at nursing homes has also been carried out. Very positive results can be appreciated in the daily nursing practice at nursing homes as a consequence of using a quality assurance system. Clinical practice has improved considerably as a consequence. The study shows quality assurance systems to be a useful tool at the service of nursing practice at nursing homes. Positive effects resulting from the implementation of such quality assurance systems are evident as it can be seen from satisfaction surveys and health indicators. Full article

Wolfram Syndrome (WS) is a rare disease (RD) with an estimated prevalence of 1/770,000 inhabitants. It is considered a multisystemic, chronic and progressive disease.WS diagnosis implies devastating consequences at physical, educational and emotional levels. WS is also known by the acronym DIDMOAD, derived from the first letters of the main clinical symptoms: Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness. Rare diseases are characterized by their low prevalence and the lack of knowledge on the pathophysiology and treatment of them. Interestingly, around 80% of RD have a genetic basis, and this fact causes doubts and uncertainties in the couples, about the idea of having another child. The existence of a RD in a family, alters significantly the relationships and the quality of life within the family. The present work remarks the huge value of psychosocial aspects in order to pay an adequate attention to these patients, not only taking care of the clinical aspects. The main purpose of this study has been to ascertain the quality of life of Wolfram’s syndrome affected patients, and its impact in the daily life. Full article

With this research we try to find the relationship between the entertainment, leisure and perceived quality of life by students attending our education program for older people achieving aging asset quality. We are at present a major challenge to the achievement of welfare all inclusive society and to all groups within it. As we can confirm in the report published in 2008 by IMSERSO in 2010 17.2% of total the population was at an age of 65 years. The growth rate of the population is 1.26% higher than the average annual population growth. Overall, in Spain we can see this change in the demographic trend, it also assures us as the median age of the Spanish settlement established in the year 2000 to 38.8 years. The projected median age in 2050 will stand at 49.5 years positioning ourselves for that year above the European Middle Ages. with this describe how research in our Educational Program for People Major contributing to active aging cataloging data on Leisure, the Leisure and the Quality of Life. The work will also compare the data obtained by sex and age to compare them with other statistics official published so far at both state and international level. Full article

Resilience is a dynamic and multidimensional construct that refers to the ability of people to cope with or recover successfully from adverse situations. The aim of this study was to analyze resilience in workers and residents of a Centre for the Elderly institutionalized according to sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age and marital status) after the adverse situation caused by an earthquake in Lorca in May 2011. A sociodemographic questionnaire developed ad hoc and the adaptation of the Resilience Scale Connor-Davidson (CD-RISC) were administered. Participants were 20 workers and 34 seniors in a Centre for the Elderly institutionalized in the Region of Murcia (Lorca). The average age of the institutionalized seniors was 81 years with a standard deviation of 7.68 and the average age of professional caregivers was 37.85 years with a standard deviation of 9.60. The study allows to determine resilience capacity in response to sociodemographic characteristics and the existence of significant mean differences between the ability of tenacity-efficacy among workers and residents of the Centre for the Elderly. This will allow to design actions to prevent and/or intervene promptly. Full article

Sleep disorders are very frequent in the elderly and it affects health and well-being of older people. Some authors estimate that the prevalence of insomnia in the elderly is very high, close to 60%. Sleep disorders in the elderly are frequent and it causes high demand for care. Some authors think that it will affect a lot in health of older people and those who take care of them. This could bring an increase of institutionalization. With this work we wanted to measure prevalence of insomnia in those chronic and psychogeriatric patients who are in nursing-homes, and which psychotropic drugs are prescribed for control it. In addition, we have studied if there is significant relationship between psychiatric diagnosis, neurologic diagnosis, age or sex, medical comorbidity, and the presence of insomnia. Full article

Objective: To identify biocultural and social factors acting at different stages of lifecourse, involved in the form of aging in women and men over 65 years. Material and Methods: The sample consists of 213 individuals; mean age was 73.9 years (std=5.8) for women and 74.8 (std=6.6) for men. Data were collected in Cultural and Leisure Centers in the Community of Madrid. Healthy aging (created from the number of diagnosed diseases, perceived health, life satisfaction, hearing and oral status) was considered as the dependent variable. The independent variables considered in this study were age, sex, educational level, sitting height, spam, age at first maternity and the total number of children. Linear multiple regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: Healthy aging was negatively associated with age and positively with the sitting height in men. In women, healthy aging was positively associated with years of education, when age at first motherhood is included in the model, this in the only variable remaining with a significant effect. Conclusions: There are several factors acting across the life of men and women and that affect differently the way women and men get old. Full article

The aging of the Spanish population has led to an increasingly greater number of hip fractures attended by the Spanish Healthcare System in the last years. Those patients, due to their fragility, need special professional attention and consequently, Orthogeriatric Units (UOG) have achieved the highest benefits.The main purpose of this research project is to evaluate the principle variables associated to the elderly affected of hip fracture staying in a new Orthogeriatric Unit created at the Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Tenerife, Spain. A descriptive study of the elderly patients diagnosed of hip fracture staying in a conventional Orthopedic Ward was conducted, focusing specifically in those who were transferred to the UOG. The main items to describe were: total time of in-hospital staying, type of hip fracture and the kind of surgery selected, physiotherapist sessions in the conventional Orthopedic Ward, in the UOG and in Home Hospitalization Unit (HADO) as well as the total number of patients that needed to continue ambulatory physiotherapist sessions. As a conclusion, early start of physiotherapist sessions inside the hospital, completed in the UOG and/or in HADO, along with counseling and professional assessment to families and patients, reduced a very high percentage of their need for ambulatory ongoing rehabilitation. Full article

In Portugal, due to the importance of the family in care, the professional profile of the family nurse was created to ensure quality care, since they are considered to be at the core of the teams. Several authors argue that nurses who assign importance to the families in health care are more likely to interact with these families, increasing the level of care. In addition, the center of attention in nursing interventions should not only be the families’ responses, but also the nurses’ attitudes. With the aim of assessing nurses’ attitudes about the family care, a quantitative study was carried out in which the scale “A Importância das Famílias nos Cuidados de Enfermagem-Atitudes dos Enfermeiros (IFCE-AE)” was applied to 871 Primary Health Care nurses in the center region of Portugal. It was concluded that nurses who perform a specific intervention with parents, grandparents and grandchildren (p<0.001); request the presence of grandchildren when consulting the grandparents (p<0.001); and integrate grandchildren in the care for their grandparents (p<0.001) have better attitudes. Full article

Background. Research has shown that happiness and well-being play a critical role in the health of the elderly. Therefore programs based on positive psychology include any of these variables to improve their quality of life by preventing and reducing the occurrence of emotional disorders. Objectives. Prove if an intervention based on Autobiographical Memory, Forgiveness, Gratitude and Sense of Humor will increase the quality of life in institutionalized elderly. Method. A quasi-experimental design with pre and post intervention measures were used. Participants. Twenty institutionalized people aged 65 years. Instruments. Measures were taken for depression, anxiety, happiness, life satisfaction, autobiographical memory and cognitive impairment by administering questionnaires. Procedure. After obtained informed consent, questionnaires were administered in an individual interview and the purpose of the intervention was explained. The duration of the program was eleven weeks and once completed, were reevaluated participants. Results. The intervention has been effective in producing an increase in the welfare of the elderly. Conclusions. The proposed intervention is revealed as one effective new tool easy to use and inexpensive to allow to improve the quality of life and emotional disorders of the elderly. Full article

Psychiatric disorders are present in dementia (Cognitive damage) and they are part of the psychological and behavioral dementias (SPCD), which are present in almost every patient and a very important cause for psychogeriatric patients´admission. Methodology: Cognitive damage was analysed (MEC de Lobo, Pfeiffer test and semantic and verbal fluency) and functional abilities in elderly inpatients, who were older than 65 years old, were also analysed (Barthel test) for 3 months. Relating these to the different sociodemographic variables. Results: Half of the 18 patients who were analyzed and studied, had any type of depressive symptoms and between 22-44% showed some signs of cognitive damage according to the test used to sieve. Discussion/Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders measured with NPI are directly related to the disability degree for AVD´s and at the same time, this is related to the admission span. The different percentages which affect cognitive damage according to the test used, shows the importance of the correct test´s choice depending on the studied population and the type of analysis accomplished. Full article