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Factors influencing intentions to seek a cognitive status examination: a study based on the Health Belief Model
- Author:
- WERNER Perla
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(9), September 2003, pp.787-794.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of the present study was to examine the factors influencing intention to seek a cognitive status evaluation in the presence of memory problems. A convenience sample of 186 community-dwelling adults (mean age=64) were interviewed face-to-face using measures derived from the Health Belief Model. Participants' intentions to be examined were higher when presented with scenarios describing family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Perceived barriers and cues to action were significant predictors of intention, accounting for 24% of the variance. These findings suggest the need to develop effective educational strategies to improve knowledge about AD and decision-making concerning cognitive status examinations.
The willingness to enter a nursing home: a comparison of Holocaust survivors with elderly people who did not experience the Holocaust
- Authors:
- LETZER-POUW Sonia, WERNER Perla
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 40(4), 2003, pp.87-103.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Factors influencing the willingness to enter a nursing home were examined among Holocaust survivors (N = 94) and elderly persons who did not experience the Holocaust (N = 74). No differences were found between the groups regarding their willingness to enter a nursing home. Attitudes toward nursing homes were the main factor influencing the decision-making process for both groups. Income was an additional factor for Holocaust survivors, while living situation and education were additional factors for the other group. Holocaust survivors who tried to avoid memories of the Holocaust, were less willing to enter a nursing home, than survivors who made less of an effort to avoid such memories. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Anxiety disorder and accompanying subjective memory loss in the elderly as a predictor of future cognitive decline
- Authors:
- SINOFF Gary, WERNER Perla
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(10), October 2003, pp.951-959.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of the study was to empirically investigate the hypothesis that anxiety in the elderly, secondary to loss of memory, predicts future cognitive decline. The participants were 137 elderly subjects with no depression or cognitive impairment from a community geriatric assessment unit, 45% with anxiety. In addition to demographic characteristics, cognitive status was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination; depression was assessed by Tucker's short Interviewer-Assisted Depression Rating Scale; anxiety by Sinoff's Short Anxiety Screening Test and Activities of Daily Living function by Shah's modified Barthel's Index. At follow-up 37 persons had dropped out, leaving 100 participants for final analysis. Mean re-examination time was 3.2 years with no group differences. The mean MMSE and modified Barthel scores decreased significantly more in those with anxiety. A relative risk of 3.96 for developing future cognitive impairment was found. Regression analysis showed that only anxiety was a significant predictor of cognitive decline. By path analysis, a more parsimonious model showed anxiety to have both a direct and an indirect effect on predicting future cognitive decline, and that the effect of loss of memory on cognitive decline was via anxiety. Anxiety is inter-related and inseparable with loss of memory and its presence is a strong predictor for future cognitive decline, directly or indirectly via depression. It appears that loss of memory is the initial problem with consequent development of anxiety. Therefore, anxiety, like depression, is probably an early predictor of future cognitive decline and even possible future cognitive impairment.