A descriptive correlation study was conducted at the outpatient pulmonary clinic of a large medical center to describe family support and self-care behavior and to ascertain the relationship of these two variables among Chinese chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. A total of 98 COPD patients completed the questionnaires providing demographic data and information about perceived family support and self-care behavior. Results showed that most subjects perceived that they had received a high level of family support, and the majority of the subjects perceived that they had initiated an adequate amount of self-care behavior. A slightly statistically significant positive relationship between family support and self-care behavior was ascertained.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in cognitively impaired elderly residents of long-term care facilities in East Asia and to explore the factors associated with these patterns. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of BPSD in cognitively impaired elderly residents of long-term care facilities in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Nursing Home version (NPI-NH), were used to assess cognitive status, dementia severity, and BPSD, respectively. NPI-NH subscale severity scores were multiplied by frequency scores to obtain the subscale scores and aggregated into two groups based on score (clinically insignificant = 1-3; clinically significant ≥4). Results: Data from 662 people were analyzed. Median age, median Mini-Mental State Examination scores, and median CDR scores differed significantly among the seven study sites. The prevalence of BPSD varied from 64% in Taiwan to 100% in dementia care units in Japan, and the median total NPI-NH scores ranged from 2 in Taiwan to 14 in dementia care units in Japan. After stratification of the sample by dementia severity and clinical significance of NPI-NH scores, differences in the prevalence of clinically significant BPSD were mostly observed among facilities dedicated to dementia patients in the CDR 1 group. In the CDR 3 group, the prevalence of some clinically significant BPSD, such as apathy, was high even among study sites with low median total NPI-NH scores. Conclusions: Our findings may suggest referral and selection biases in the study sites. Future prospective studies are needed to address the impact of environmental and care factors on the occurrence of BPSD in Asian countries.

<blockquote>Because older adults in Thailand frequently lack knowledge about osteoporosis and its prevention, the authors examined a program to provide bone health education in this population.</blockquote> <h4>ABSTRACT</h4> <p>The authors used a one-group pre-test&ndash;post-test design to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an osteoporosis prevention program and the effects of the program on knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy; and osteoporosis preventive behaviors in older adults. Participants included 48 older adults who attended a health center in Thailand. Results revealed that the program was feasible and acceptable. A significant improvement in osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy, and osteoporosis preventive behaviors occurred. Findings suggest that the program helps older adults incorporate new knowledge and skills into their daily lives and helps them maintain bone health.</p>

Background The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to compare patterns of psychotropic prescription drug use among cognitively impaired residents in long‐term care facilities in East Asia and to explore factors associated with these patterns. Methods This study included elderly participants with cognitive impairments residing in long‐term care facilities with and without dementia care units in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Mini‐Mental State Examination, the Clinical Dementia Rating, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Nursing Home version were used to assess cognitive status, examine dementia severity, and evaluate behavioural psychological symptoms of dementia, respectively. The rate of psychotropic drug use and the relationship between the number of psychotropic drugs and clinical factors were examined. Results In total, 662 people were analyzed. Facilities with dementia care units had a higher rate of anti‐dementia drug use than regular elderly care sites. Among the three dementia care sites, a Japanese hospital and a Korean site had a high rate of antipsychotic use and use of other types of psychotropics, whereas these drugs were used at a low rate in a Chinese nursing home. Patterns of psychotropic drug use may be partially associated with local regulations and facility type. Poly‐pharmacy was identified as a common problem at all study sites. Conclusions Our findings will be beneficial for health‐care professionals and policymakers when developing practice guidelines and strategies to regulate overuse of psychotropics and poly‐pharmacy. Prospective studies are needed to examine patterns of psychotropic prescriptions and to promote evidence‐based practice.

This e-health promotion initiative is an example of how computer-assisted instruction may be developed to teach carers of older people.