Socio-demographic characteristics associated with emotional and social loneliness among older adults.

Background: International studies provide an overview of socio-demographic characteristics associated with loneliness among older adults, but few studies distinguished between emotional and social loneliness. This study examined socio-demographic characteristics associated with emotional and social loneliness.

Methods: Data of 2251 community-dwelling older adults, included at the baseline measure of the Urban Health Centers Europe (UHCE) project, were analysed.

Reliability and Validity of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator in 5 European Countries.

Objectives: To assess the internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, and concurrent validity of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) within community-dwelling older people in Spain, Greece, Croatia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Primary care and community settings.

Longitudinal Association Between Physical Activity and Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objectives: To examine the longitudinal association between frequency of moderate physical activity (PA) and overall, physical, psychological, and social frailty among community-dwelling older adults older than 70 years. Second, we assessed the association between a 12-month change in frequency of moderate PA and frailty.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

The Association between Loneliness and Health Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) among Community-Dwelling Older Citizens.

: This study aimed to assess the association between loneliness and Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) among community-dwelling older citizens in five European countries. We characterize loneliness broadly from an emotional and social perspective. : This cross-sectional study measured loneliness with the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and HR-QoL with the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey.

A coordinated preventive care approach for healthy ageing in five European cities: A mixed methods study of process evaluation components.

Aims: To evaluate specific process components of the Urban Health Centres Europe (UHCE) approach; a coordinated preventive care approach aimed at healthy ageing by decreasing falls, polypharmacy, loneliness and frailty among older persons in community settings of five cities in the United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, the Netherlands and Spain.

Design: Mixed methods evaluation of specific process components of the UHCE approach: reach of the target population, dose of the intervention actually delivered and received by participants and satisfaction and experience of main stakeholders involved in the approach.

Methods: The UHCE approach intervention consisted of a preventive assessment, shared decision-making on a care plan and enrolment in one or more of four coordinated care-pathways that targeted falls, polypharmacy, loneliness and frailty.

Effects of health care interventions on quality of life among frail elderly: a systematized review.

Introduction: Many health care interventions have been developed that aim to improve or maintain the quality of life for frail elderly. A clear overview of these health care interventions for frail elderly and their effects on quality of life is missing.

Purpose: To provide a systematic overview of the effect of health care interventions on quality of life of frail elderly.

The effectiveness of a coordinated preventive care approach for healthy ageing (UHCE) among older persons in five European cities: A pre-post controlled trial.

Background: Older persons often have multiple health and social problems and need a variety of health services. A coordinated preventive approach that integrates the provision of health and social care services could promote healthy ageing. Such an approach can be organised differently, depending on the availability and organizational structures in the local context.

Evaluation design of Urban Health Centres Europe (UHCE): preventive integrated health and social care for community-dwelling older persons in five European cities.

Background: Older persons often have interacting physical and social problems and complex care needs. An integrated care approach in the local context with collaborations between community-, social-, and health-focused organisations can contribute to the promotion of independent living and quality of life. In the Urban Health Centres Europe (UHCE) project, five European cities (Greater Manchester, United Kingdom; Pallini (in Greater Athens Area), Greece; Rijeka, Croatia; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and Valencia, Spain) develop and implement a care template that integrates health and social care and includes a preventive approach.

Assessment of the impact of lifting device use on low back pain and musculoskeletal injury claims among nurses.

Objectives: The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the effect of manually lifting patients on the occurrence of low back pain (LBP) among nurses, and (2) to estimate the impact of lifting device use on the prevention of LBP and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injury claims.

Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science identified studies with a quantitative assessment of the effect of manually lifting patients on LBP occurrence and studies on the impact of introducing lifting devices on LBP and MSD injury claims. A Markov decision analysis model was constructed for a health impact assessment of patient lifting device use in healthcare settings.

The influence of ergonomic devices on mechanical load during patient handling activities in nursing homes.

Objectives: Mechanical load during patient handling activities is an important risk factor for low back pain among nursing personnel. The aims of this study were to describe required and actual use of ergonomic devices during patient handling activities and to assess the influence of these ergonomic devices on mechanical load during patient handling activities.

Methods: For each patient, based on national guidelines, it was recorded which specific ergonomic devices were required during distinct patient handling activities, defined by transferring a patient, providing personal care, repositioning patients in the bed, and putting on and taking off anti-embolism stockings.

Comparison of measurement methods for quantifying hand force.

Hand force is a known risk factor for upper extremity disorders. The objective of the present study was to determine the characteristics of, and the relationships between, exposure assessment methods to quantify hand force. Five methods, used in the laboratory or the field, were used to quantify hand force at three force magnitudes: two direct (or technical) measurement methods, force transducers and electromyography; an observational method; and two self-report approaches, force matching and a visual analogue scale.