ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the chronic diseases causing other serious diseases and syndromes. Active involvement of the patient in the management of the disease is crucial in improving self-care and clinical outcomes. Mobile technology is nowadays used widely to improve the self-care process in people with chronic diseases such as hypertension. AIM: The objective of this study was to provide an overview of the existing research evaluating the impact of mobile applications on the self-care of patients with hypertension. METHODS: The Scopus and PubMed databases were investigated using a comprehensive search strategy from the beginning of 2010 to 2019. All controlled clinical trial studies as well as quasi-experimental studies used mobile as a device for improving the self-care and conducted on patients with hypertension were included in the study. The studies were reviewed by two independent individuals. RESULTS: Out of 1032 studies found, 6 studies were finally reviewed after applying the inclusion criteria. Out of 6 studies reviewed, three studies confirmed the effect of using mobile applications on lowering blood pressure. Other studies reported a decline in blood pressure, while statistically significant were not shown. CONCLUSION: The results showed that mobile apps have positive potential on improving the self-care behavior of patients with hypertension, but the evidences presenting their impact are varied. Different reports for efficiency of mobile phone apps for the self-care modification was due to diverse condition of studies for mobile intervention on the patients with hypertension.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the types of elder abuse, their risk factors and the characteristics of abusers among abused elderly people aged above 60 years in Isfahan. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, abused elderly individuals aged above 60 years that referred to the centers of competent jurisdiction with complaint against a person harassing them were studied during 2008-2009. The demographic profiles of the abused and abusers were collected by physicians who worked in forensic medical centers, using a questionnaire. The type of abuse was classified as physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as neglect in 68 individuals who were intentionally abused was 100%, 100%, 0% and 11.8%, respectively. Abused subjects were healthy, unemployed and illiterate men and women (similar sex distribution) with moderate monthly income who lived with their families, mainly in cities (p < 0.05). The abusers were mainly healthy and illiterate men, mostly the sons of the abused person, living in cities (p < 0.05). Forty six (67.6%) patients had previous history of abuse, 43 (63.2%) had more than one previous record and in 45 ones (66.2%) the previous abuse was repeated. There was no relation between elder abuse and drug and alcohol abuse (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provided a sense about the probably high prevalence of elder abuse in our community and its related risk factors.
