دکتر راضیه سادات حسینی

Alzheimer's disease, which affects memory and cognition, makes patients increasingly dependent on their caregivers. Informal caregivers feel socially rejected due to the presence of the patient in their family and this causes affiliated stigma towards them. This study aimed to investigate the affiliate stigma and its associated factors among family caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 203 family caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease in dementia and Alzheimer's association in Tehran, Iran. Data collection tools included the Demographic Information Sheet and Affiliate Stigma Scale (ASS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient tests, independent t-tests, and analysis of variance.

 According to the results, the mean ages of the older adults with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers was 76.62±7.87 and 55.59±13.66 years, respectively. The mean score of the affiliated stigma among the family caregivers of the older adults with Alzheimer's disease was 37.14±10.35. The affectional domain of ​​stigma with a score of 2.09±0.59 and the behavioral domain of ​​stigma with a score of 1.5±0.49 were the highest and the lowest rated dimensions, respectively. Additionally, affiliated stigma was significantly associated with caregivers’ demographic variables such as age, educational level, occupation, and relationship with the patient (p<0.05).

The results of this study showed that the affiliated stigma in family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease is limited, but regardless of the level of stigma, it is considered a major problem and can affect many different aspects of caregivers and patients’ lives. Therefore, it is necessary to develop appropriate plans to provide effective services for family caregivers of the older adults with Alzheimer's disease and improve the quality of life of this vulnerable group.

Gerotranscendence, as a component of spiritual health, influences their quality of life and adaptation to chronic diseases by creating meaning in life. It is an important approach to enhancing the dimensions of aging health. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between gerotranscendence and quality of life in the elderly with cancer.

This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 200 older adults with cancer who were selected from Firouzgar and Rasool Akram medical centers in Tehran, Iran, during 2021. The checklist of demographic characteristics, the Gerotranscendence Scale (GTS), and the quality of life questionnaire (LEIPAD) were used.

Gerotranscendence had a statistically significant relationship with marital status, level of education, employment status, housing status, type of cancer, and type of treatment (P<0.05). Age had a statistically significant negative correlation with the quality of life (r=-0.206). Gerotranscendence also had a statistically significant positive correlation with the dimensions of quality of life (r=0.221, P=0.002), including depression and anxiety (r=0.146, P=0.04), mental performance (r=0.167, P=0.018), social performance (r=0.266, P<0.001), and satisfaction with life (r=0.256, P<0.001).

Increasing gerotranscendence increases the quality of life of the elderly.

 Health is one of the fundamental rights of every human as well as it is a social aim and all governments are responsible for people’s health. This study aimed to investigate the physical and mental health and its related demographic factors in martyr's elderly parents.

 This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on martyr’s elderly parents in Tehran, Iran in 2018. 600 individuals were selected by stratified random sampling method. Data collection was conducted using a demographic questionnaire, the activities of daily living (ADL) questionnaire and world health organization (five) well-being index (WHO-5). Data were analyzed by SPSS 23 software through independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post-hoc test.

 The mean scores obtained for the activities of daily living was 10.07±3.17 and the mean scores obtained for world health organization (five) well-being index was 11.60±5.87. There was a significant relationship between the ability to doing activities of daily living and mental well-being with demographic characteristics including age, gender, marital status, ability to read and write and the number of income sources (p<0.05).

 Physical and mental health status of martyr's elderly parents in Tehran city is in the low level and it has a relationship with demographic characteristics including age, gender, marital status, ability to read and write and the number of income sources.

It is in high importance to pay attention to different aspects of health and well-being in the elderly age. So, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the association between spiritual health and life satisfaction in the elderly hospitalized in Shahrekord hospitals.
In this cross-sectional study, 308 elderly hospitalized in medical internal and surgical wards were enrolled into study by convenience sampling in 2013. The tools of gathering data were Spiritual Well-Being Scale and Life satisfaction Scale questionnaires. After collecting data, they were analyzed using SPSS software and independent t-test and one-way ANOVA tests.
Spiritual health in 51.3% of the elderly was low and the mean score for spiritual health was 86.16±18.61. Spiritual health was significantly associated with marital status, age, and number of children (P≤0.001). Life satisfaction was high (slightly satisfied, satisfied and very satisfied) in 63.9% of the elderly with mean score of 20.80±5.8 Life satisfaction was associated with demographic characteristics such as gender (P=0.002), social status (P=0.001), and number of children (P=0.001). There was a positive, significant association between spiritual health and life satisfaction (P≤0.001).
Over half of the elderly reported their spiritual health in low level, but most of them had a high level of life satisfaction. Therefore, it seems necessary to conduct religious interventions to promote spiritual health in hospitalized elderly.

Scientific journals are one of the most important tools for knowledge transition and translation in the word. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate these journals with the aim to control the research published in them. The study aimed to conduct a content and citation assessment of articles published in the Iranian Journal of Ageing.
Methods & Materials: A descriptive bibliometric analysis design was employed in this study. All available manuscripts published from 2006 through 2015 were reviewed. A valid researcher instrument was constructed and employed for data collection. SPSS version 23 was used for analysis.
Of the 298 published manuscripts, the most common field of publication were physical activity with 18.5%, followed by mental and physical area with 12.4% and 10.4%, respectively. The most popular method used in these published papers (67%) was descriptive-analytic, and the least method (7.1%) was clinical trials. The analysis of the geographical distribution of published papers revealed that the majority of the papers originated from Tehran, but no articles were published from the five provinces of North Khorasan, Kurdistan, Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad, Hormozgan, Hamedan. The average of editorial time (speed from submission to publication) was 284 days (SD=143). Approximately 22% of the papers were cited at least once. The mean number of citations per document was 2.26 (SD=1.95). Results of the inferential statistics revealed that research setting and published time were significantly associated with citation.
According to the findings from the present study, in order to improve the quantity and quality of the Journal, it is suggested that the editorial board of the Journal take up measures to reduce editorial time. It is also suggested that they should focus on the scope of the Journal and consider appropriate geographical distribution of the published papers.

self-care behaviors are an effective means in managing diabetes in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the predictors of diabetes self-care in the elderly in Kerman based on the role of diabetic knowledge.
In this cross-sectional study, 374 elderly diabetic patients who had referred to health screening centers in Kerman were chosen via cluster sampling. To collect informations Toobert Glasgow’s diabetes self-efficacy scale and questionnaire based on diabetic knowledge was used. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed. The data were analyzed using t test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis in SPSS software 17.
Self-care capacity in most of diabetic elderly was weak (61/3%). Age, education level, marital status, income, complication, medication and diabetic knowledge (P According to the results of this study, diabetic knowledge can determine behaviors self care. So it is necessary to develop an educational intervention based on diabetic knowledge with the goal of properly managing diabetes in the elderly patients.

In Iran, as in many developing countries, a report that reflects the impact of different cultures on the elderly abuse does not exist. Therefore this study conducted to compare elderly abuse and related factors in groups of Persian and Turk in Chahatmahal Bakhtiari province.
This descriptive-comparative study was carried out on 400 elderly people in Chahatmahal Bakhtiari province. Sampling method was random. The researcher visiting several parks and places which elderly people were eligible for the study and Elder Abuse Questionnaires were completed. For analyzing the data, descriptive and inferential statistics were used.
Finding showed that 17.14% of participants have experienced at least one type of abuse, which 35.9% was physical abuse, 15.9% verbal-psychological abuse, 16% Nonverbal abuse, 10/1% self-neglect, 4.5% others neglect, 23.3% experience of rejection from others, and 14.3% financial abuse. All types of abuse in both Persian and Turkish groups were significantly different.
Despite our cultural emphasis on respecting to the elderly people, they experience various forms of abuses. Therefore, understanding their abuse and related factors can promote the awareness and sensitivity of community and related organizations which finally prevents this health problem.

Discharge is favorable for many patients, but it can be assumed as a problem for many other patients. Generally, patients have unmet needs after discharge that can increase their anxiety, decrease physical and mental health, create emotional problem, and decrease patients’ abilities to adjust.
The purpose of this study is to assess caring needs of discharged patients from medical-surgical wards of Gonabad hospitals.
In this cross-sectional study, 150 patients of medical-surgical wards were enrolledwith convenience sampling method. They were discharged from 15th-khordad and 22th-Bahman hospitals one week before entering the study. Data were collected with a reliable questionnaire that was validated and analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive methods with p ≤0/05 as the significant level.
According to results about 75 patients in medical and 75 patients in surgical wards, needed the most caring in the first week after discharge’ in surgical patients, the needs were caring for intra body catheter (100%), caring for fractured limb(100%), caring for wound and dressing (100%), and most caring needs in medical wards were caring for intra body catheter (100%), caring for wound and dressing (100%), and physical activity and mobility (92%).
Result showed that patients discharged before full recovery and in convalescence period signifies the necessity of emphasizing a planned discharge, predicting necessary implementations for the continuation of home expertise caring and recovery process and prevention of side effects proposed for them.

Spirituality is the most important dimension of existence in more than a third of the people and it has been at the center of their life as a strong force so, may have an influence on a person's quality of life. Religious and spiritual well-being is comprised of two dimensions that existential dimension is trying to understand the meaning and purpose of life. Aim of this study was to investigation the relationship between spiritual existential dimension of well-being and quality of life in women with infertility referred to Isfahan Infertility Centers. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013, 190, 20 to 45 years old infertile women who were referred to Isfahan Infertility Centers were selected through convenience sampling. To assess the existential dimension of spiritual well-being and quality of life, the Spiritual Health Questionnaire (SWBS) and Quality of Life Questionnaire summarized by the World Health Organization were used. Date was analyzed using spss v.18 and descriptive and analytical tests. The results of this study showed that, the mean of quality of life score was 87.9 ± 12.4, the physical dimension of quality of life was 27.2 ± 4.5, the psychological dimension was 20.9 ± 3.5, and existential dimension of spiritual well- being was 44.8 ± 8.9, and total spiritual health was 97.7 ± 14.8. There was a direct relationship between existential dimension of spiritual well- being and the total score (r =0.613, p<0.001), physical (r=0.386, p<0.001) and mental (r =0.66, p<0.001) quality life. As infertility is a multi-faceted problem and can cause several damage s to women and influence the quality of life; we can improve quality of life in infertile women with promotion of spiritual well- being.

The physiological changes and muscle problems can lead to balance disorder and increased risk of falling among the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the factors associated with balance in the elderly, to increase their awareness of the falling risks and to provide them with appropriate assistive devices.. Hence, this study was carried out to investigate the relationship between some gait parameters and static and dynamic balance in the elderly. In this quasi-experimental study, 44 men and women in two groups (22 per group) participated as the study sample. The measured values included step length, stride length, step width, rotating angle of toes, and static and dynamic balance. The static balance was measured with Romberg test and dynamic balance with TUGTU test. Data were analysed by SPSS-15 software using t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. There was a significant relationship between step length and stride length with static and dynamic balance and between step width and dynamic balance (p<0/05). But no significant relationship was reported between step width and static balance and between rotating angle of toes with static and dynamic balance among the elderly. the elderly balance can be improved by decreasing the step length and increasing the stride length, thereby reducing the possibility of their falling.

providing care of patient with Alzheimer disease in long term associates with an increase in physical and mental health problems for caregivers. The study purpose was to assess the relationship between general health and burden in women as caregivers of patient with Alzheimer disease. In this cross sectional and study, 150 women who had 18-60 years old and were the first-degree relatives of elderly patient with Alzheimer and also being direct caregivers for at least six months were selected through the convenience method. The data were collected using general health and burden questionnaire and then analyzed using by SPSS 16 and some tests like independent T-test, ANOVA and Regression analysis with Pvalu of. 05. The results indicated that 38% of caregivers were in a range age of 51-60 years old. In addition, 75.3% of theme were married and 72.7% had moderate economic status, 82% were house holder, 65.3% of them had diploma education, and 66% were elder’s daughter and took care of their old patients for 6-12 months. Results showed that 24% of participants were in a good level of general health and 62% experienced a high level of burden. Pearson’s correlation coefficient created a significant negative correlation between general health and burden (P≤0/000,r= 0/661). According to the correlation between level of general health and burden in this study, health level of care providers is an important health problem requiring to receiving attention from healthy services and professions as a priority in health caring.

Renal stone can cause many physical and psychological problems for older patients. The aim of present study was to assess prevalence of depression among older adults with renal stone. In this descriptive - analytic study, prevalence of depression among all of patients aged more than 64 years (51) who were admitted to lithotripsy unit of ayatollah Kashani hospital in Shahrekord in 2013 were assessed with using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Data were analyzed with using descriptive analysis (mean and standard deviation), independents t test and one way ANOVA in SPSS 18. Mean of total depression score was 6.1+3.6. In total, fourteen patients (34.2%) obtained score between 0 to 4, sixteen patients (39.1%) obtained score between 5 to 8, seven patients (17%) obtained score between 9 to 11 and four patients (9.7%) obtained score between 12 to 15. The results of present study also showed that existence of chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia with renal stone in older adults increase prevalence and severity of depression among this group of patients. Prevalence of depression among older adults with renal stone is high. This problem should be considered in health and treatment programs that conducted for older adults by health care systems.

Spirituality is the most important dimension of existence in more than a third of the world population, and it has been at the center of their lives as a strong force, so it may have an influence on a person's quality of life. Infertile women are always at risk of stress and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigation the relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life in infertile women referred to Isfahan infertility centers.

In this cross-sectional study, 190 infertile women, 20 to 45 years old, who referred to Isfahan infertility centers were selected through convenience sampling. To assess the spiritual well-being and the quality of life of the subjects, the spiritual health questionnaire (SWBS) and summarized format of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire were used. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 17.

The results of this study showed that the mean total score of quality of life was 87/9, Religious dimension of spiritual well-being 52/8, existence dimension of spiritual well-being 44/8 and total score of spiritual well-being 97/7. There was a direct relationship between the total score quality life with existence dimension (r =. /613 p <. /001), Religious dimension(r= 0/278 و p< 0/001) and total score of spiritual well-being (r= 0/519 و p< 0/001).

As infertility is a multi-dimensional problem which can cause several damage to women and influence the quality of life, and as there is a relationship between spiritual health and quality of life, we can improve the quality of life in infertile women with promotion the spiritual well-being.

Renal transplantation as a treatment of choice in most of the patients with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) improves physical domain of quality of life, but because of the effects of immunosuppressive drags, ongoing medical care may be required, and this problem influence on psychological, economic, and social status, and therefore quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate physical and psychological domains of quality of life in kidney transplantation patients in Kerman City. In this descriptive analytical study, quality of life of 105 kidney transplantation patients in Kerman city was assessed using SF36 questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Statistical Tests, such as independent t-test, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and ANOVA. Significance level was considered to be p<0.05. The mean score of quality of life in kidney transplantations patients was 60.95±18.01, physical domain score was 59.77±14.78, and psychological domain score was 62.58±10.22. The maximum score was related to role limitation due to physical problems (72.25) and minimum score was related to general health (58.25). Analysis of the psychological domain scores according to demographic variables showed no significant difference, but in the physical domain, this difference was significant in terms of age and marital status (p≤0.05). The results of this study showed that kidney transplantation patients have relatively favorable quality of life, and psychological domain scores of quality of life were higher than those of physical domain.

Caring for patients with dementia especially Alzheimer, is the most hardship, damaging and challenging of cares that caregivers expose to it. The lack of education about it increases the problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of group discussion and telephone counselling on perceived stress of women as caregivers of patient with Alzheimer disease. In this study, 150 women who had 18-60 years old as a close relative to elderly patient with Alzheimer and at least being direct caregivers for six months, with convenience method were selected and by blocking randomization were allocated to control and experimental groups. The experimental group was participated in the group discussion and telephone counselling. Post-test was carried out six weeks after the program. The instruments for data gathering were demographic items and perceived stress Questionnaire. Independent t-test, paired t-test, Chi-square and ANOVA test were used. The study findings showed that before group discussion and telephone counselling 50.7% of samples in intervention group and 57.3% of samples in control group had high level of stress. Our results demonstrated that after the intervention, the mean of perceived stress in experimental group was decreased from 28.38±8.62 to 22.45±5.55 (p≤0.001) which shows decrease of stress. In the control group mean was increased from 29.88±8.66 to 31.92± 6.31 (p=0.009) which shows increase of stress. There were significant relationship between perceived stress and the variables of education (p= 0.03), and economic status (p= 0.01). Caregiver women of patient elders with Alzheimer disease as the main resource of informal caregivers, experience high levels of stress that this problem treats health of women and their elderly. Group discussion and telephone counselling are effective to decrease perceived stress of women as caregivers of patient with Alzheimer disease. Thus, this method of education is suggested.

Long term delivery of care to patients with Alzheimer disease is associatesd with increase of physical and mental health problems for caregivers. Lack of necessary trainings has increased the caregiver's health problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of educational- counseling program on general health of women as caregivers of patient with Alzheimer disease. In this study, 150 women (18-60 years old) who were close relatives to the elderly patients with Alzheimer disease were selected by simple sampling method. These women had been working as direct caregivers for a period of six month, at least. Women were enrolled for a pre-test in which they filled out demographic information questionnaire and Goldberg general health questionnaire. Then, they were randomly allocated to control and experimental groups. The experimental group participated in educational- counseling program which was consisted of a group discussion session, educational pamphlet and 2 telephone consultations. Six weeks after the program, post-test questionnaire was carried out for both groups. Data were analyzed using independent T-test, paired t-test, chi-square and one-way ANOVA. Findings showed that 17.3% of samples had weak general health before the intervention. After the educational- counseling program, the mean of general health in experimental group decreased from 39.68±15.3 to 19.09±10.03 (P<0.001), which showed an increase in general health care. In the control group general health mean increased from 37.43±15.68 to 43.9±14.9 (P=0.001), which shows decreased general health. According to the results of this study and unfavorable general health in women who work as caregivers of patients with Alzheimer disease, effective educational methods are suggested for improving the caregiver’s health.

The purpose of this study was to explore the general health status in women as care givers of the elderly people with Alzheimer who attending to the Iranian Association of Alzheimer’s Disease. In this descriptive –cross sectional study as a introductory stage of a randomized controlled field trial, 150 women were recruited with a consecutive sampling method. The study population of this study included the women as family care givers attending to the Iranian Association of Alzheimer Disease. In this study, the inclusion criteria was consisted of women who had 18-60 years old, be a close relative to elderly patients with Alzheimer disease, as well as they have had direct caring with the duration of at least six months. Data collection regarding assessment of general health of the women was a questionnaire including 28 items of Persian version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). For data analysis, descriptive statistics and chi square were used in the study. The study findings showed that only 24% of the subjects had a good level of general health, but 58.7% and 17.3% of them had a moderate and weak general health respectively. There were significant relations between general health of the women as care givers and the variables such as age (p= 0.016), occupation (p= 0.008), type of relative (p=0.013), and economic status (p= 0.049). However, there were not any significant relation between general health and the other variables of marriage situation (p= 0.5), education (p= 0.07), and duration of caring the elderly patients with Alzheimer (p= 0.205). According to the findings, the considerable percentage of the female care givers of elders with Alzheimer disease did not pose optimum level of general health. As Care givers’ gender centered studies have seldom conducted in Iran, future researches should focus on different dimensions of health promotion among both male and female care givers.