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Biomedical subjects

P Kingston

Publications and source records attributed to P Kingston.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Assessing the health impact of age-specific housing.

It has been claimed that 'retirement communities', defined in this instance as voluntary communities of older people living in shared, purpose-built housing, combine the best attributes of residential and community living. Subjective health status may thereby be improved through a culture in which independence and autonomy are actively promoted. Concern has also been raised that age-segregated communities of this sort might produce 'ghettos' of increasing dependency and service demand. This study, conducted over a 12-month time period, found that when compared to older people living in the local neighbourhood, the retirement community population maintained their physical and mental health (utilising measures including the SF36, Life Satisfaction Index, and 18 semantic differentials). Investigation of these findings indicated that peer support and safety/security, and 'autonomy with inclusion' were key factors in maintaining health status.

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PubMed1997

Issues in the sphere of elder abuse and neglect: the role of education.

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on violence and abuse within society. It therefore seems appropriate to consider the role of education in promoting a greater understanding of the linked phenomena of elder abuse and neglect, and of the quality of life of older people. The rationale behind the educational process covering the area of elder abuse and neglect has not, until now, been discussed in any structured or open way. Education concerning these social problems has tended to develop in an ad hoc manner, with numerous organizations, professionals and academics developing their own ideas about what might be considered to be an appropriate curriculum. This paper aims to address some of the fundamental questions which need to be explored, including: who is to be educated; what knowledge is to be taught; and how is it to be taught?

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PubMed1995

Elder abuse and neglect: issues in the accident and emergency department.

Recognition and identification of elder abuse and neglect within the Accident and Emergency (A & E) department currently appears less evident than recognition of child abuse and domestic violence. As the population of older people increases, it is likely that there will be an increased usage of the A & E department by older people, some of whome may have been subject to abuse or neglect. Elder abuse and neglect constitute potentially serious health and social problems. The need for the A & E nurse to identify and respond to elder abuse and neglect is therefore a professional responsibility. The nursing profession is clearly in a position to contribute to the recognition of elder abuse and neglect, and A & E nurses are in a unique position to assist this process. This paper seeks to assist nurses with this task by arguing for a 'higher index of suspicion', allied to a sound knowledge base of the circumstances surrounding elder abuse, signs and symptoms and known risk factors. Finally, practical suggestions are offered to assist in the assessment and intervention with suspected or known cases of elder abuse and neglect.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comorbid personality impairment in body dysmorphic disorder.

Personality impairment was evaluated in 17 body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) patients undergoing a treatment study of clomipramine versus desipramine. Semistructured interviews were administered using both categorical (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM [SCID II]) and dimensional (Dimensional Assessment of Personality Impairment [DAPI]) methods. Personality measures were also correlated with a range of clinical variables (severity of BDD and depressive symptoms, age, duration of illness, and response to treatment). A secondary aim of the study was to provide preliminary validation for the DAPI. Consistent with previous studies, BDD patients showed considerable personality pathology. By SCID II, patients met criteria for a mean of 2.53 personality disorder diagnoses; 87% of patients met criteria for at least 1 diagnosis and 53% for more than 1. Cluster C diagnoses were the most common. Mean scores for the DAPI were 2.63 (3 = mild impairment) to 6.41 (7 = severe impairment), averaging 5.26 (5 = moderate). With regard to the DAPI, the results provided preliminary evidence of good reliability and validity. Moreover, both personality measures were highly intercorrelated. Although SCID II diagnoses correlated with baseline depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD]) scores, there were few other significant correlations between personality and other clinical variables. Of note, however, treatment responders demonstrated less personality impairment than nonresponders. The finding that personality measures were highly intercorrelated but, on the whole, not well correlated with other clinical measures supports the distinct and dissociable nature of personality phenomena in BDD. Despite the small sample size, these results suggest that personality impairment appears to be significant factor in BDD and may even play a role in treatment response.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Elder abuse and neglect.

Elder abuse is now being recognised as a serious social problem. This article discusses the difficulties in defining elder abuse and describes the characteristics of the abused and the abuser. It then suggests how nurses may recognise abuse and outlines the interventions that may be employed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recognising and dealing with the abuse of older people.

The phenomenon of elder abuse and neglect is not new; indeed, there is evidence that suggests the issues have been present within society for a considerable period of time. Despite the efforts of health- and social-care professionals to draw attention to the topic since the issue was first raised in the late 1970s, it is only since 1988 that the issues related to elder abuse and neglect have begun to be addressed. Health and social-care professionals have not viewed work with older people very positively.

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