Relation between Nursing Students’ Knowledge of Aging and Attitude towards Elderly People and Their Will and Intent to Work with the Elderly

The changing population structure has many implications for the elderly and nurses must be prepared to meet the challenges of caring for this rapidly increasing segment of population. Aim: Assess nursing students’ knowledge of aging, attitude towards elderly people, will and intent to work with the elderly and determine the relation between nursing students’ knowledge of aging, attitude towards elderly and their will and intent to work with the elderly. Method: A descriptive co-relational study was used via self reported questionnaire, completed by 596 students from the faculty of nursing-Mansoura University. Students’ responses were analyzed using factor analysis, correlation coefficients, T-test, and Anova test. Results: Mansoura nursing students have a lack of knowledge of aging and held a positive attitude toward the elderly. As well they showed a high score of intent and will to work and care for the elderly people. A statistically significant correlation was found between knowledge of aging, attitude toward elderly, intent and will to work and care for the elderly. Conclusion: knowledge of aging of the nursing student should be increased in order to improve quality of care and to provide effective care services to the elderly people using new teaching and educational strategies. Key Words: Knowledge of aging, Attitude, Elderly people, Nursing students, Will, Intent

Effect of Lifestyle Intervention Program on Controlling Hypertension among Older Adults

Hypertension is one of the most common health problems in older adults and affects approximately one billion individuals worldwide. Interventions for hypertensive patient should be designed to increase adherence to lifestyle modification and antihypertensive medications. Aim: to determine the effect of lifestyle intervention on controlling hypertension among older adults. Method: quasi-experimental research design was used. The study carried out on 84 hypertensive elderly patients attending outpatient clinics of the specialized medical hospital, Mansoura university hospital, and New Mansoura general hospital. The subjects were alternatively divided into two equal groups; the first was study group, comprised of 42 patients and they were received the lifestyle intervention regarding control blood pressure. The second was control group, comprised of 42 patients and exposed to routine outpatient care only. Data was collected using 3 tools, socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview sheet, hypertension knowledge, and health promoting lifestyle profile II. Conclusion: the lifestyle intervention program was effective in the control of blood pressure via adoption of healthy behaviors. Keywords: lifestyle intervention, hypertension, older adult

Anxiety and Depression among Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Cancer

Anxiety and depression are the most common problems experienced by family caregivers. Aim: to assess anxiety and depression among family caregivers of older adults with cancer. Method: descriptive research design was used in this study. The study carried out on 157 family caregivers of the older adults diagnosed with cancer attending Mansoura Oncology Center within a period of three months. Data was collected using four tools, Socio demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule, Barthel Index Scale, Lawton and Brody Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: the mean scores of anxiety were 11.31±3.37 in which the prevalence of anxiety among caregivers was 85.3%. The mean scores of depression were 10.64±3.22 in which the prevalence of depression was 81.5%. Conclusion: Family caregivers of older adults with cancer experienced high levels of anxiety and depression. Keywords: Older adults, Cancer, Anxiety, Depression, Family caregiver