Filipino elderlies' perception on abuse: Their safety status and treatment of social networks

Background and Objectives@#Elderly Filipinos have four important concerns: security in old age, health status, impact of aging, and elder abuse. Elder abuse committed in their homes or in their community is alarming. How their social networks (their family, friends, relatives, and significant others) treat them plays a crucial role in their well-being. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions on elder abuse and the safety status of Filipino older persons along with the treatment afforded to them by their social networks. The study also determined such perception to be able to devise a cost effective, community-based interventions to address elder abuse. @*Methodology@#The study used mixed methods design and the Experience of Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI) tool, a questionnaire along with the demographic profile of the participants. The results were tallied and analyzed using descriptive statistics. How social networks treat them and their safety status were explored using researcher-made open-ended questions analyzed using the qualitative approach. @*Results and Conclusion@#Findings revealed the perceptions of Filipino older persons on elder abuse, with participants from the 60-69 age group, predominantly female, with no work, and have low monthly income. The major themes generated from the qualitative findings were relationship issues with the self, environment, coping, abuses, and values. Several sub-themes were also discovered and were related to the findings. An awareness campaign on the issue of elder abuse in Philippine society was recommended. Educating social networks about the perils of abuse is crucial in maintaining the safety of older persons. A monitoring system must be developed at the barangay level and policies must be put in place to address the concerns of elder abuse.

Diabetes self-management education program (DSME) among adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">The DSME program is aimed to educate adolescents about diabetes mellitus: disease process, survival skills, exercise management, drug management, diet management, prevent acute and chronic complications and optimize quality of life. This study utilized the quasi experimental pre and post-test design involving 15 adolescent patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The DSME materials were composed of five modules that included topics in diabetes awareness, survival skills, exercise, drug and diet management. Knowledge, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Random Blood Sugar (RBS) and waist and hip ratio (WHR) were tested. The Intervention phase was implemented in three months where each module was completed by patients in two weeks. Pre and post-test examinations were done after each module. Participants have very satisfactory knowledge in diabetes awareness, survival skills, exercise, drug management before and after the DSME program. However, participants knowledge in diet management were unsatisfactory before and after the DSME program. FBS were high but RBS levels and WHR were in normal levels before, during and after the DSME program. Knowledge scores were significantly different before and after the implementation of all the modules (Module 1 to Module 5) to the participants. RBS results were significantly different after the implementation of the Module 1- DM awareness and Module 5- diet management. However, no significant differences were obtained in the RBS results of the participants after the implementation of Module 2, 3, 4, and 5. No significant differences were also obtained in the WHR parameters of the participants in each of the implementation of DSME. No significant differences in the FBS results were obtained after the implementation of the DSME modules. The module type DSME is effective in increasing knowledge of the adolescent patients in diabetes and its management. The content of the diet management module needs to be strengthened and be tested again for its effectiveness in increasing knowledge of adolescent patients.</p>

The needs and capabilities of older adults bases for nursing curriculum enhancement

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">The needs and capabilities of the older adults should be determined to provide quality care and to make sure that they enjoy a quality life. This study aimed to determine the needs and capabilities of the older adults to Serve as the basis for the enhancement of the BSN program in Gerontology Nursing that will help undergraduate nurses provide quality care for the older adults. The study employed descriptive research design to determine the needs and capabilities of 928 older adults in 14 cities in Metro Manila. Documentary analysis and a researcher­-made questionnaire composed of the descriptions of older adults' needs and capabilities were used. Mean and standard deviation were used to describe the needs and capabilities of older adults. 1-test and ANOVA were used to determine difference between the needs and their capabilities and when compared according to gender, civil status, number of children and educational attainment. Results showed that expenditure, health, services and housing needs are "much needed", by older adults and they have "good" capabilities. There is a significant difference in the needs and capabilities of older adults (p= <.01) and when compared to gender, civil status, number of children and educational attainment. The older adult's needs and capabilities are important in the assessment process and must be included in the curriculum. The capabilities of older adults must be maintained to a higher degree to ensure meeting older adult's present and future needs. The gaps identified in the gerontology nursing curriculum must be the bases for curricular enhancement.</p>

Level of awareness and compliance in diabetes mellitus management among adolescents diagnosed with type-1 diabetes

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">The study aimed to determine the level of awareness and to assess compliance to Diabetes management of adolescents diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. A descriptive correlational type of research was utilized to gather information on the level of awareness and compliance of adolescents patients to diet, exercise and drug management suffering from Type-1 diabetes mellitus. The patients (n=20) were recruited from Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation Incorporated, Philippines. A purposive sampling was utilized to select twenty adolescents. A researcher-made questionnaire was utilized as the main instrument in gathering data. Focus group discussion was also done to further assess patient's level of awareness and compliance to diabetes management. Results showed that patients have a moderate level of awareness and some extent of compliance to diabetes. Patients have extreme awareness in diet management and moderate awareness in exercise and drug management. In terms of compliance, patients are compliant to some extent only, while drug management has the highest highest level of compliance, followed by exercise and diet. There is a low correlation between level of awareness and compliance in diabetes management (r=.32 p=0.15), indicating that the moderate level of awareness of patients to DM management is not related to their compliance. The results are limited only to the participants of the study. Further study using a larger population and different setting is recommended. Nurses taking care of adolescent patients with diabetes mellitus must understand the importance of health education. Health educations are valuable to increase level of awareness and extent of compliance of adolescents patients with Type-1 diabetes.</p>