Alcohol Consumption Among Older Adults in Primary Care

BACKGROUND: Alcohol misuse is a growing public health concern for older adults, particularly among primary care patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine alcohol consumption patterns and the characteristics associated with at-risk drinking in a large sample of elderly primary care patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of multisite screening data from 6 VA Medical Centers, 2 hospital-based health care networks, and 3 Community Health Centers. PARTICIPANTS: Patients, 43,606, aged 65 to 103 years, with scheduled primary care appointments were approached for screening; 27,714 (63.6%) consented to be screened. The final sample of persons with completed screens comprised 24,863 patients. MEASUREMENTS: Quantity and frequency of alcohol use, demographics, social support measures, and measures of depression/anxiety. RESULTS: Of the 24,863 older adults screened, 70.0% reported no consumption of alcohol in the past year, 21.5% were moderate drinkers (1–7 drinks/week), 4.1% were at-risk drinkers (8–14 drinks/week), and 4.5% were heavy (>14 drinks/week) or binge drinkers. Heavy drinking showed significant positive association with depressive/anxiety symptoms [Odds ratio (OR) (95% CI): 1.79 (1.30, 2.45)] and less social support [OR (95% CI): 2.01 (1.14, 2.56)]. Heavy drinking combined with binging was similarly positively associated with depressive/anxiety symptoms [OR (95%): 1.70 (1.33, 2.17)] and perceived poor health [OR (95% CI): 1.27 (1.03, 1.57)], while at-risk drinking was not associated with any of these variables. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of participants were nondrinkers; among alcohol users, at-risk drinkers did not differ significantly from moderate drinkers in their characteristics or for the 3 health parameters evaluated. In contrast, heavy drinking was associated with depression and anxiety and less social support, and heavy drinking combined with binge drinking was associated with depressive/anxiety symptoms and perceived poor health

Revisão integrativa da literatura sobre gestão do regime terapêutico em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica Revisión integradora de la literatura sobre el manejo del régimen terapéutico en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica Integrative literature review on treatment management in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Com este estudo pretende-se identificar qual a melhor estratégia de intervenção de enfermagem na promoção da gestão do regime terapêutico em pacientes com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica no ambiente hospitalar. Realizamos uma revisão integrativa da literatura dos anos 2006 a 2009. A partir da análise dos dados, constatamos que os estudos utilizam diferentes elementos e diferentes indicadores de efetividade para avaliarem as estratégias de intervenção utilizadas. Baseando-se nas evidências disponíveis, não é possível identificar qual a melhor estratégia. Desta revisão emerge a definição dos indicadores de resultado mais consensuais na avaliação da efetividade das estratégias de intervenção. Torna-se agora necessário desenvolver, implementar e avaliar a efetividade das estratégias de intervenção de enfermagem, recorrendo a estes indicadores, para definir qual a melhor estratégia de intervenção, baseada na evidência.<br>Con este estudio, pretendemos identificar cuál es la mejor estrategia de intervención de enfermería en la promoción del manejo del régimen terapéutico en pacientes con Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica, en el ambiente hospitalario. Realizamos una revisión integradora de la literatura de los años 2006 a 2009. A partir del análisis de los datos, constatamos que los estudios utilizan diferentes elementos y diferentes indicadores de efectividad para evaluar las estrategias de intervención utilizadas, no siendo posible identificar cuál es la mejor estrategia basada en la evidencia disponible. De esta revisión surge la definición de los indicadores de resultado más consensuales en la evaluación de la efectividad de las estrategias de intervención. Se vuelve ahora necesario desarrollar, implementar y evaluar la efectividad de las estrategias de intervención de enfermería, recurriendo a tales indicadores, para definir cuál es la mejor estrategia basada en la evidencia.<br>The objective of this study is to identify which is the best nursing intervention strategy to promote treatment management in patients with Obstructive Chronic Pulmonary Disease in the hospital setting. An integrative literature review was performed for the years 2006 to 2009. The data analysis revealed that the studies used different elements and specific effectiveness indicators to evaluate the intervention strategies that were addressed. Based on current evidence, it is not possible to identify the best strategy. The present review points out the need to define more consensual outcome indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention strategies. Hence, it is necessary to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of nursing intervention strategies, turning to those indicators, to define the best evidenced-based intervention strategy