The current cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to explore the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related health literacy, perceived risk, and intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. A sample of 414 older adults completed several questionnaires regarding COVID-19 risk perception, intention to vaccinate, and health literacy. Results revealed that more than one half of older adults demonstrated perceived high risk related to COVID-19 infection. Moreover, 31.6% of older adults noted their unwillingness to get vaccinated, and 39.4% demonstrated low health literacy regarding COVID-19. A significant positive correlation was found among older adults' perceived risk regarding COVID-19 infection, intention toward vaccination against COVID-19, and COVID-19-related health literacy. Findings serve to aid the Ministry of Health in planning proactive steps to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in older adults. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(2), 57-67.].
The current research includes a psychometric test of a nursing home (NH) health information technology (HIT) maturity survey and staging model. NHs were assembled based on HIT survey scores from a prior study representing NHs with low (20%), medium (60%), and high (20%) HIT scores. Inclusion criteria were NHs that completed at least two annual surveys over 4 years. NH administrators were excluded who participated in the Delphi panel responsible for instrument recommendations. Recruitment occurred from January to May 2019. Administrators from 121 of 429 facilities completed surveys. NHs were characteristically for-profit, medium bed size, and metropolitan. A covariance matrix demonstrated that all dimensions and domains were significantly correlated, except HIT capabilities and integration in administrative activities. Cronbach's alpha was very good (0.86). Principal component analysis revealed all items loaded intuitively onto four components, explaining 80% variance. The HIT maturity survey and staging model can be used to assess nine dimensions and domains, total HIT maturity, and stage, leading to reliable assumptions about NH HIT. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(2), 93-99.].
Hypertension is a serious medical condition, the frequency of which increases significantly with age; has a negative impact on certain health complications; and increases the rate of mortality. Music therapy as a nonpharmacological treatment has many positive effects on an individual's body and mind. A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the effects of music therapy on blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels in older adults with hypertension living in a nursing home. Sixty older adults were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n = 30 each). Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels were found in older adults with hypertension receiving music therapy compared with the control group. The current study confirms music therapy as a safe, noninvasive, nonpharmacological, and cost-effective intervention for reducing blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels in older adults with hypertension. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(2), 85-92.].
Few health behavior interventions exist for rural caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) in the United States. Of interventions that have been studied, little is known about health outcomes that are included in interventions and which interventions are most effective on health outcomes. An integrative literature review of intervention studies for rural caregiver health throughout the United States was undertaken with an emphasis on concepts related to health promotion, self-management, self-care, and/or self-efficacy. Findings from this review indicated multicomponent interventions that included self-care strategies were associated with improvements of caregiver psychosocial health outcomes of depression, burden, self-efficacy, social support, and self-rated health. Sleep problems and endurance potential were the only physical health outcomes measured. To prevent adverse physical health outcomes, interventions with attention to rural context are needed that emphasize health promotion with a focus on health behaviors and health outcome measurement in rural caregivers of PWD. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(2), 101-108.].
This secondary analysis examined (1) factors associated with willingness to participate in clinical research for cognitive health among individuals with cognitive impairment and their care partners, and (2) concordance regarding such willingness between individuals with cognitive impairment and their care partners (dyads). Neuropsychological factors and willingness to participate in clinical research were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Participants' sociodemographic and clinical information was extracted from the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer's Disease Research Center record. Binary logistic regression and Cohen's kappa coefficient analyses were performed. Greater trust in medical researchers (p = 0.031, B = 0.127) and more severe cognitive impairment (p = 0.009, B = -0.289) were associated with willingness to participate in clinical research among individuals with cognitive impairment. Dyadic agreement on willingness to have the individual with cognitive impairment enroll in clinical research was poor to fair (κ = 0.380). Findings suggest that individuals with cognitive impairment with greater trust in health professionals are more likely to agree to clinical research participation. Nurses and other health care providers who counsel individuals with cognitive impairment and their care partners should work to build trusting relationships with participants and be mindful of how increased trust can alter power dynamics between participants and health care professionals. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(2), 76-84.].