Search PubMed⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 15524242

Aging with multiple sclerosis.

Marcia Finlayson·Toni Van Denend·Elizabeth Hudson
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Although multiple sclerosis (MS) does not typically reduce life expectancy, there has been relatively little systematic investigation of the experiences and health-related concerns of people aging with this disease. A current search of the database CINAHL produced no articles when the search terms "multiple sclerosis," "nursing" and "aging" were used. To initiate more dialogue about the role of nurses in addressing the issues and concerns of people aging with MS, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using both qualitative interviews and the administration of standardized instruments to elicit information about the health concerns and service needs of 27 people with MS 55 years of age and older. Qualitatively, participants perceived that they had less freedom and required more assistance than same age peers who do not have MS. Scores from standardized instruments support these perceptions. Participants expressed unmet needs in the areas of housework, physical therapy, MS support groups, religious service attendance, information and referral, check-in services, assistive technology use, social activities, personal care, and care coordination. To address these perceptions and needs, neuroscience nurses need to be aware of and sensitive to the challenges of aging with MS. In addition, nurses must be prepared to discuss and provide information, resources, and referrals on a wide range of health, social, and wellness-related services.

Explore related subjects

Activities of Daily LivingAdaptation, PsychologicalAgedAged, 80 and overAgingAttitude to HealthCost of IllnessCross-Sectional StudiesPersons with DisabilitiesFemaleHealth StatusHumansLife ExpectancyMaleMiddle AgedMultiple SclerosisNeeds AssessmentNurse's RoleNursing Methodology ResearchQualitative ResearchQuality of LifeSelf CareSelf-Help GroupsSurveys and QuestionnairesJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Marcia Finlayson, Toni Van Denend, Elizabeth Hudson. 2004. Aging with multiple sclerosis.. https://doi.org/10.1097/01376517-200410000-00003

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2006

A mixed effects Markov model for repeated binary outcomes with non-ignorable dropout.

In many areas of research, repeated binary measures often represent a two-state stochastic process, where individuals can transition among two states. In a behavioural or physical disability setting, individuals can flow from susceptible or subthreshold state, to an infectious or symptomatic state, and back to a subthreshold state. Quite often the transition among the states happens in continuous time but is observed at discrete, irregularly spaced timepoints which may be unique to each individual. Methods for analyses of such data are typically based on the Markov assumption. Cook (Biometrics 1999; 55:915-920) introduced a conditional Markov model that accommodates the subject-to-subject variation in the model parameters with random effects. We extend this model by adding a non-ignorable dropout component to the model. Specification of the distribution of the random effects is made to guarantee a closed form expression of the marginal likelihood. This methodology is illustrated by applications to a data set from a parasitic field infection survey, a data set from a cocaine treatment study, and a data set from an aging study. Simulations suggest that the shared parameter model is robust with respect to at least one alternative non-ignorable model.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

An update on the definition of "excessive exercise" in eating disorders research.

OBJECTIVE: The current study informed the definition of "excessive exercise" by examining relations between exercise behavior, eating-disordered behavior, and quality of life (QOL) in a community sample of women. METHOD: Self-report measures of frequency of exercise, obligatory exercise and motivation for exercise, and of eating disorder psychopathology and QOL, were completed by 3,472 women aged 18-42 years who engaged in regular exercise. RESULTS: The extent to which exercise is intended to influence weight or shape and the degree to which guilt is experienced when exercise is postponed were the exercise variables most strongly associated with elevated levels of eating disorder psychopathology and reduced QOL. Subgroups of participants who reported exercising solely for weight and shape reasons (n = 322 [9.3%]), intense guilt after postponement of exercise (n = 136 [3.9%]), or both (n = 116 [3.3%]), had markedly elevated levels of eating disorder psychopathology. There was no association between excessive exercise and reduced QOL after the effects of eating disorder psychopathology were statistically controlled. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that exercise is excessive when its postponement is accompanied by intense guilt or when it is undertaken solely to influence weight or shape. Operational definitions of excessive exercise might usefully include reference to these terms. The findings may also be of benefit in informing the content of prevention programs, which address dysfunctional exercise behavior. Excessive exercise is unlikely to be associated with impairment in psychosocial functioning in the absence of eating disorder psychopathology. It may, however, be a useful indicator of such psychopathology.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Ambulatory motor assessment in Parkinson's disease.

We developed an algorithm that distinguishes between on and off states in patients with Parkinson's disease during daily life activities. Twenty-three patients were monitored continuously in a home-like situation for approximately 3 hours while they carried out normal daily-life activities. Behavior and comments of patients during the experiment were used to determine the on and off periods by a trained observer. Behavior of the patients was measured using triaxial accelerometers, which were placed at six different positions on the body. Parameters related to hypokinesia (percentage movement), bradykinesia (mean velocity), and tremor (percentage peak frequencies above 4 Hz) were used to distinguish between on and off states. The on-off detection was evaluated using sensitivity and specificity. The performance for each patient was defined as the average of the sensitivity and specificity. The best performance to classify on and off states was obtained by analysis of movements in the frequency domain with a sensitivity of 0.97 and a specificity of 0.97. We conclude that our algorithm can distinguish between on and off states with a sensitivity and specificity near 0.97. This method, together with our previously published method to detect levodopa-induced dyskinesia, can automatically assess the motor state of Parkinson's disease patients and can operate successfully in unsupervised ambulatory conditions.

Activities of Daily Living↗