Socio-demographic determinants of quality of life among older people, a population-based study

Introduction: Social participation is considered one dimension and also determinant of quality of life. The level of social participation of the elderly is influenced by various components such as socio-economic and demographic factors. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between social participation, quality of life, and some socio-economic factors in community dwelling elderly in Kerman, Iran

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 communities dwelling old people in Kerman in 2017 selected through random sampling. The data were collected using researcher-made Social Participation questionnaire and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression analysis

Results: The results revealed the participants' mean score of social participation was above fifty. Social participation was significantly associated with age [p < 0.001], marital status [p = 0.004], education level [p < 0.001], and occupation [p = 0.021]. A significant direct correlation was also observed between social participation and quality of life [p < 0.001], and social participation determined 21 % of variance of life quality score [p < 0.001]

Conclusion: With the increase in social participation of the elderly, their quality of life improves. Establishing nongovernmental organizations, charities, and associations for retirement and aging can increase the level of social participation of the elderly

[ comparison of nurses' clinical competences in two hospitals affiliated to Shiraz and Boushehr universities of medical sciences: a self-assessment]

Introduction: Evaluating nurses' clinical competencies is of special importance in managing care process and determining their educational needs. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical competencies and clinical skills application by nurses in two hospitals affiliated to Boushehr and Shiraz Medical Universities

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the clinical competencies of all 266 nurses employed in two main hospitals of Boushehr and Shiraz medical universities and volunteered for participation in the study were compared. A questionnaire containing 73 nursing skills in seven domains of clinical competencies was used to investigate the level of nurses' clinical competencies through Visual Analogue Scale [0 to 100] and their clinical skills application via a 4 degree Lickert Scale. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient

Results: Having a mean score of 87.03 +/- 10.03, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences' nurses enjoyed higher level of clinical competencies compared to the mean score of 71.07 +/- 13.66 achieved by those in the hospital affiliated to Boushehr University of Medical Sciences. Moreover, 70 percent of clinical skills are recurrently exploited by nurses employed in Boushehr while this rate is more than 83 percent in the hospital affiliated to Shiraz Medical University

Conclusion: The level of clinical competencies and the extent to which nursing skills are employed by nurses is dissimilar in these two hospitals. Educational needs assessment for nurses and modification of health care quality in different hospitals is recommended to be investigated