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11 – 17 of 17Jaber Jafarzadeh, Laleh Payahoo, Mohammad Yousefi and Ali Barzegar
This paper aims to depict the mechanistic role of vitamin D on dementia prevention, relief of the severity and the complication of the disease. All papers indexed in scientific…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to depict the mechanistic role of vitamin D on dementia prevention, relief of the severity and the complication of the disease. All papers indexed in scientific databases, including Scopus, Elsevier, PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar between 2000 and 2021 were extracted and discussed. To present the mechanistic role of vitamin D in declining the severity of dementia, keywords including dementia, vitamin D, oxidative stress, inflammation, amyloid beta-Peptides were used.
Design/methodology/approach
Dementia is a prevalent cognitive disorder worldwide, especially in elderly people, which is accompanied by serious disabilities. Besides genetic, biological and lifestyle factors are involved in the incidence of dementia. An unhealthy diet along with micronutrient deficiencies are among modifiable factors. Vitamin D is one of the important micronutrients in brain health. Besides the involvement in gene expression, bone mineralization, apoptosis, inflammation, skeletal maturation, neurotropic action and hemostasis of phosphate and calcium, vitamin D also exerts neuroprotective effects via genomic and non-genomic pathways.
Findings
Vitamin D up-regulates the expression of various genes involved in dementia incidence via various mechanisms. Decreasing oxidative stress and the neuro-inflammatory cytokines levels, regulation of the expression of alternated Proteins including Tau and Amyloid-ß, calcium homeostasis in the central nervous system and also vascular are considered main mechanisms.
Originality/value
Considering the importance of diet in preventing dementia, adherence to a healthy diet that provides essential nutrients to brain function seems to be urgent. Controlling serum levels of vitamin D periodically and providing vitamin D by related sources or supplements, if there is a deficiency, is recommended. Future studies are needed to clarify other related mechanisms.
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Mental health problems in later life are common and damaging experiences for individuals, their families and those who support them. Some become almost the defining feature of the…
Abstract
Mental health problems in later life are common and damaging experiences for individuals, their families and those who support them. Some become almost the defining feature of the older person and, while they are challenging professionally and costly for society, they are also influenced by the twin discriminations of stigma and ageism. In this, the last in our series on older people's mental health, we pull together some other key messages from the series and set them in the context of current and future service commissioning and provision. We point to remaining gaps in provision and suggest how commissioners might approach the problems of mental ill‐health in later life in a context of declining resources.
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Elizabeth Delbreil and Gilbert Zvobgo
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine health professionals’ recognition of sensor technology as a means to enhance quality of life (QoL) of care recipients with…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine health professionals’ recognition of sensor technology as a means to enhance quality of life (QoL) of care recipients with dementia, in Switzerland and France. In light of this research, the authors suggest potential vectors of development for wireless sensor technology (WSN) businesses working in gerontechnology. Information and communication technology (ICT) for the aging is a high‐potential, nascent market in which the technology‐enabled solutions lack business models to make them readily available and easily‐accepted.
Design/methodology/approach
To enhance the contribution of the study to both theory and practice, a mixed methodology combined qualitative and quantitative approaches. Similarly, the data collection techniques included interviews, a case study and an online questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the quantitative data to examine the relationships between elements of WSN‐adoption and QoL aspects.
Findings
Positive respondent attitude towards gerontechnology as a means to enhance QoL led to the consideration of possible value propositions and innovations at the centre of future business models, channel development and multidisciplinary collaboration that could overcome major social and political obstacles.
Originality/value
This study's originality lies in its intention to survey professional caregiver perceptions in order to identify value creation potential.
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Lynda Elias, Genevieve Maiden, Julie Manger and Patricia Reyes
The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, implementation and initial evaluation of the Geriatric Flying Squad's reciprocal referral pathways with emergency…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, implementation and initial evaluation of the Geriatric Flying Squad's reciprocal referral pathways with emergency responders including New South Wales Ambulance, Police and Fire and Rescue. These innovative pathways and model of care were developed to improve access to multidisciplinary services for vulnerable community dwelling frail older people with the intent of improving health and quality of life outcomes by providing an alternative to hospital admission.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a case study describing the review of the Geriatric Flying Squad's referral database and quality improvement initiative to streamline referrals amongst the various emergency responders in the local health district. The implementation and initial evaluation of the project through online survey are further described.
Findings
Sustainable cross-sector collaboration can be achieved through building reciprocal pathways between an existing rapid response geriatric outreach service and emergency responders including Ambulance, Police, Fire and Rescue. Historically, emergency services would have transferred this group to the emergency department. These pathways exemplify person-centred care, underpinned by a multidisciplinary, rapid response team, providing an alternative referral pathway for first responders, with the aim of improving whole of health outcomes for frail older people.
Practical implications
Enablers of these pathways include a single point of contact for agencies, extended hours to support referral pathways, education to increase capacity and awareness, comprehensive and timely comprehensive assessment and ongoing case management where required and contemporaneous cross-sector collaboration to meet the medical and psychosocial needs of the client.
Originality/value
The Geriatric Flying Squad reciprocal pathways are a unique model of care with a multi-agency approach to addressing frail older people's whole of health needs.
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Camilla M. Haw, Jean H. Stubbs and Geoffrey L. Dickens
Use of off-license medicines in forensic mental health settings is common and unlicensed drugs are sometimes prescribed. Despite their responsibility for administering medicines…
Abstract
Purpose
Use of off-license medicines in forensic mental health settings is common and unlicensed drugs are sometimes prescribed. Despite their responsibility for administering medicines little is known about how mental health nurses view these practices. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 50 mental health nurses working in low and medium secure adolescent and adult mental health wards were presented with a clinical vignette about administration of unlicensed and off-license medicines. Semi-structured interviews about their likely clinical response to, and feelings about, this practice were conducted. Interview data were subject to a thematic analysis.
Findings
Analysis revealed six themes: status of unlicensed/off-label medicines; legality of administering unlicensed medicines; professional standards around administering unlicensed medicines; finding out more about unlicensed medicines; trusting medical colleagues; and decision making in uncertain cases.
Practical implications
Forensic mental health nurses take a pragmatic approach to the practice of administering unlicensed medicines and most are aware of their professional responsibilities.
Originality/value
This study provides the first evidence to inform the development of training for forensic mental health nurses about an issue that is common in forensic mental health practice.
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Bushra Elhusein, Yassin Eltorki, Oraib Abdallah and Mohamed El Tahir
Review of antipsychotic prescribing practices, rationale and follow-up using an internationally standardized audit can be an effective tool to encourage and monitor best…
Abstract
Purpose
Review of antipsychotic prescribing practices, rationale and follow-up using an internationally standardized audit can be an effective tool to encourage and monitor best practices. The purpose of this study is to audit the current prescribing pattern for people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours in Qatar.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was based on the challenging behaviour management guidelines recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. All current electronic medical records in the Mental Health Service-Hamad Medical Corporation were examined to identify patients with intellectual disabilities who received antipsychotics for challenging behaviour. Demographic variables, such as age, sex and nationality, were collected. In addition, details of psychiatric diagnoses, prescribed psychotropic medications and diagnoses of epilepsy were also collected. For patients who were prescribed antipsychotic medication, the clinical rationale for such medication was collected along with evidence of side effect monitoring to allow performance against the audit standards to be measured.
Findings
This is the first audit on prescribing practices in people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour in the state of Qatar. The results of this study regarding the pattern of prescribing practices for patients with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour reflect the limitation in knowledge and experience among non-specialist practitioners within mental health service. The result may be helpful to support the development of specialist service provision to improve the care for such vulnerable group. The result may also help other medical centres and clinicians by providing an improved understanding of possible deviations from the best medical practices.
Originality/value
This is the first audit on prescribing practices in people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour in the state of Qatar. The study is also noteworthy as, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is one of only a few studies on antipsychotic prescribing for patients with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour in the Middle East; therefore, it will be useful in raising awareness and promoting the best practices in the Middle East region. This study is also among the first few studies that were designed based on the four audit standards by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in this area.
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