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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.
Perceptions regarding the use of physical restraints with elderly persons: comparison of Israeli health care nurses and social workers
- Author:
- WERNER Perla
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interprofessional Care, 16(1), February 2002, pp.59-68.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In view of the difficulty involved in decision-making regarding the use or removal of physical restraints and the recent pattern encouraging the use of interdisciplinary teams for elder care issues, the present study compared the perceptions of Israeli nurses and social workers in health care settings regarding the use of physical restraints. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 50 nurses and 69 social workers working in long-term and acute care settings. The findings indicated that participants in all professions attributed moderate to low importance towards the use of physical restraints. Social workers' perceptions were similar to those of nurses in psychiatric hospitals and slightly more favourable to the use of physical restraints than those of nurses in nursing homes. Patients' safety (as reflected in the scores of the items related to protecting an older person from falling and protecting an older person from pulling out a catheter) was the most important reason for using physical restraints for both groups. Increased attention should be given to the role of social workers as team members in the process of decision-making regarding the use or removal of physical restraints, especially as mediators between the elderly person, family members and staff members.
Emotional reactions of lay persons to someone with Alzheimer's disease
- Authors:
- WERNER Perla, DAVIDSON Michael
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(4), April 2004, pp.391-397.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Information about the nature of public reactions to people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) can help reduce stigmatization associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to examine emotional reactions to persons with AD, and its correlates. A total of 150 Jewish Israeli adults (mean age=59.9) were interviewed face-to-face regarding their emotional reactions to people with AD using a vignette methodology. Only a third of the participants gave the correct label. The person described in the vignette elicited more positive than negative emotions. Gender and perceived threat were the most important factors associated with emotional reactions. Findings suggest the need to expand the efforts to increase the recognition of AD by lay persons, and to address the negative emotions of several risk groups, such as male adults and those with greater concern about developing the disease.