آزاده نظرپور

Population aging is one of the most fundamental challenges of today’s world. Due to the increasing growth of the elderly population and the importance of identifying effective factors on their physical activity, this study was done to determine physical activity and its effective factors among the elderly population of Khorramabad city.

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on 450 elderly people in Khorramabad city. Data were collected using 4 questionnaires about demographic characteristics, Community Healthy Activities Program for Seniors (CHAMPS), Knowledge towards physical activity, and Attitude scale Toward Physical Activities (ATPA). Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, ANOVA and stepwise regression in SPSS 22.

The mean age of participants was 64.20±5.51 years. The mean of physical activity was 251.02±184.81 MET-min/wk. Mean physical activity was significantly correlated with educational level (P=0.001), employment status (P=0.006) and perceived economic status (P = 0.003). There was also a direct significant correlation between physical activity with weight (r=0.102, P=0.031) and life satisfaction (r=0.120,P=0.011). Also, knowledge (P=0.001) and attitude (P = 0.001) significantly predicted the level of physical activity.

The results of this study showed that the physical activity of most of the elderly under study was low and moderate. Illiterate, worker, and low-income elderly people had little physical activity. Considering appropriate programs in this field is necessary.

 Sleep quality is an important indicator of many geriatric diseases. As people age, changes happen in the quality and quantity of their sleep, which means sleep disorders and complications. This study aimed to determine the predictors of sleep disorder in elderly people living in nursing homes.  This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 130 elderly residents of senior care homes in Ahvaz City, Iran. The samples were selected by the convinience sampling method and according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pittsburgh sleep quality questionnaire, general health questionnaire (12 questions form), knee pain questionnaire, social support questionnaire, and demographic characteristic checklist were used to collect the study data that were analyzed using stepwise linear regression analysis in SPSS22.  In this study, 33.8% (n=44) of the participants were men and 66.2% (n=86) were women. The Mean±SD age of the subjects was 68±7.8 years. In total, 13.8% of the samples had a low level of sleep disorder, 81.5% moderate level of sleep disorder, and 4.6% severe level of sleep disorder. Based on the fitted regression model (F=7.24; P<0.001), multiple diseases (β=0.20), perceived social support (β= -0.26), joint stiffness (β=0.25), and knee pain (β = 0.24) were the significant predictors of sleep disorder in the elderly people, and explained 18.9% of the changes in sleep quality.  The results of the study showed that 86.1% of the elderly had a sleep disorder. Perceived social support, joint stiffness, knee pain, and multiple diseases were among determinants and predictors of elderly sleep disorder.