Associations between patterns of participation in community activities and social support, self-efficacy, self-rated health among community-dwelling older adults.

Certain types of community-based social activities improve the health issues of older adults; however, the present patterns of participation in community activities remain unknown. This study aims 1) to identify community-dwelling older adults' patterns of participation in community-based activities and 2) to evaluate the relationships between social support, self-efficacy, self-rated health, and the patterns of participation in community activities. This cross-sectional study used data collected from 146 older adults aged ≥65 years who participated in community events in Japan in 2018.

Association Between Interdialytic Weight Gain, Perception About Dry Weight, and Dietary and Fluid Behaviors Based on Body Mass Index Among Patients on Hemodialysis.

Objective: This study aimed to identify dietary and fluid behaviors associated with relative interdialytic weight gain (RIDWG) (divided by the respective dry weight [DW]) by stratifying the patients according to body mass index (BMI).

Design And Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter investigation. Between July 2016 and March 2017, data were collected from 4 Japanese dialysis centers in 3 cities.

Differences in the validity of a visual estimation method for determining patients' meal intake between various meal types and supplied food items.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to examine differences in the validity of a visual estimation method for determining patients' meal intake between various meal types and supplied food items in hospitals and to find factors influencing the validity of a visual estimation method.

Methods: There are two procedures by which we obtained the information on dietary intake of the patients in these hospitals. These are both by visual assessment from the meal trays at the time of their clearing, by the attending nursing staff and by weighing conducted by researchers.

Differences in characteristics of raters who use the visual estimation method in hospitals based on their training experiences.

Background & Aims: Despite a clinical need, only a few studies have provided information concerning visual estimation training for raters to improve the validity of their evaluations. This study aims to describe the differences in the characteristics of raters who evaluated patients' dietary intake in hospitals using the visual estimation method based on their training experiences.

Methods: We collected data from three hospitals in Tokyo from August to September 2016.