An analytical cross-sectional study on the association between animal companionship and anxiety among students of a private medical school in Quezon City / The Health Sciences Journal

Introduction@#Constant stress predisposes medical students to anxiety. The study aimed to determine the association between animal companionship and anxiety among medical students at UERMMMCI.@*Methods@#The study utilized an analytical cross-sectional design via an online form with the anxiety portion of the HADS questionnaire. Participants included first to third year medical students of a private medical school.@*Results@#A total of 161 responses were recorded. Sex and year-level exhibited significant association with anxiety. Those with anxiety were 2.71 times more likely to be females (p = 0.007). Stratification showed that those with anxiety were 1.72 times less likely to be females with pets (p = 0.37) while, in contrast, those with anxiety were 3.64 times more likely (p = 0.02) to be males with pets. Those with anxiety were likely to belong to first and second-years (p = 0.01 and p = 0.06), respectively and pet owners, though, not statistically significant (p = 0.357).@*Conclusion@#An association between sex and year-level with anxiety was noted. Those with anxiety were likely to be females, first-years, and males with animal companionship. Although they did not reach statistical significance.

Perfil sociodemográfico e clínico dos idosos de um Centro de Convivência / Sociodemographic and clinical profile of the elderly of a Companionship Center / Perfil sociodemográfico y clínico de los ancianos de un Centro de Convivencia

O estudou delineou o perfil sociodemográfico e clínico dos idosos de um Centro de Convivência, tendo em vista que o processo de envelhecimento da população é um fenômeno mundial que tem ganhado relevância no Brasil. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas norteadas por formulário. Dentre outros achados, constatou-se predomínio de mulheres, baixa escolaridade, viuvez, prática de exercícios físicos, presença de doenças crônicas, elevada independência funcional, e baixos índices de sintomas depressivos.

The study outlined the sociodemographic and clinical profile of the elderly of a Companionship Center, given that the aging process of the population is a worldwide phenomenon that has gained relevance in Brazil. The data were obtained through form-based interviews. Among other findings, it was found a predominance of women, low education level, widowhood, practice of physical exercises, presence of chronic diseases, high functional independence and low rates of depressive symptoms.

El estudió delineó el perfil sociodemográfico y clínico de los ancianos de un Centro de Convivencia, teniendo en vista que el proceso de envejecimiento de la población es un fenómeno mundial que ha ganado relevancia en Brasil. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de entrevistas orientadas por formulario. Entre otros hallazgos, se constató predominio de mujeres, baja escolaridad, viudez, práctica de ejercicios físicos, presencia de enfermedades crónicas, elevada independencia funcional y bajos índices de síntomas depresivos.

Relationship of mental condition of elderly persons in residential facilities and their willingness to accept volunteers offering conversation and companionship / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

Introduction: This study aims to clarify the relationship between the mental condition of elderly persons in residential facilities and their willingness to accept the help of volunteers offering conversation and companionship.This study is intended to help to provide appropriate and effective volunteers in residential facilities. <br>Methods: A total of 56 elderly persons residing in residential facilities and their care staff were investigated for a year from 2008. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed, using the GDS-15 score as the independent variable and the “willingness to accept volunteer companions” as the dependent variable. Mann-Whitney’ s U-test was performed, using the evaluation of Karasawa's “Clinical criteria for grading dementia” as the independent variable and “willingness to accept volunteer companions” as the dependent variable. <br>Results: The association between depression and the willingness to accept volunteers revealed low degrees of willingness in both the normal group and the depression group, but significantly greater willingness in the “predisposed toward depression” group.Meanwhile, a comparison of the normal group and the dementia group showed no significant difference. <br>Conclusions: This study suggested that the willingness of elderly patients in whom clinical depression has been diagnosed to accept the help of volunteers is markedly low, but those at levels up to “tendency toward depression” respond in conversation and interaction with volunteers.