Journal of

Introduction and purpose: Fear of falling is one of the main health problems among elder people which affect their quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between fear of falling and quality of life in community-dwelling elders.

Materials and Methods: The current research is Cross-Sectional descriptive study in which 200 community dwelling elders, aged 60 to 84 years, participated. Using convenience sampling, data collected through Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and SF-36 (short form) questionnaires in Retirement Center of Tabriz in 2011. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation by SPSS 11.5 and p.value < 0.01 was considered as the significance level.

Findings: The mean age of the participants was 64.86± 4.011 years and 174 (87%) of them were men. The results of this study indicated that increasing fear of falling score lead to reduction in quality of life score. Furthermore, there was a significant and negative correlation between the two dimensions of FES-I and the eight subscales of SF-36. A similar pattern exist for the correlation between total score of FES-I and the two subscales of SF-36 (physical and mental health) as well as significant and negative correlation between total score of FES-I and its dimensions with total score of SF-36 (All P<0.01). Conclusion: One of the most important consequences for fear of falling among elderly is reduction in quality of life. Therefore, it is recommended to provide elderly with interventional programs targeted at reduction of fear of falling which can be offered by health care professionals.

Introduction and purpose: Aging is a natural and inevitable process that every human being go thorugh. Elderly residing at nursing homes experience more stress and depression that eventually affect their quality of life compared to elderly living in their own home. Meanwhile, social support can promote elderly’s quality of life. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare quality of life, social support and depression among old people living in their own home and nursing home residents.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Gilan, north of Iran, 2014 to 2015. Participants in this study were collected using convenience sampling method and composed of 108 individuals (equal numbers of elderly living in their own home and nursing home residents). Data were collected using three questionnaires including SF-12 Quality of Life, Voux Social Support Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA.(

Finding: Results of the present study revealed that elderly living in their own home had better quality of life (F= 288.358, p<0.01), higher social support (F= 185.589, p<0.01) and lower Depression (X= 302.266, p<0.001) in comparison to elderly residing in nursing home.

Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, it is better to accommodate elderly in their own home till last day of their life. This is due to the fact that old people are more dynamic in their own home, would be able to take care of children, maintaine their relationships and receive support from family members.

Introduction and purpose: Assessing patients’ quality of life enables researchers to focus on key problems and apply the best treatment approaches. This study aimed to assess quality of life at hemodialysis patients hospitalized in HazratVali-Asr and Dr Beheshti hospitals in Zanjan city.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 74 hemodialysis patients hospitalized in two centers of Zanjan city. Data were collected during three months using standardized quality of life questionnaire for patients with renal failure (KDQOL). This questionnaire composes of two parts including; questions related to quality of life short form(sf36) and questions related to factors associated with renal disease.

Findings: The results of this study showed that 8.1 percent of patients had poor quality of life, 70.2 percent had relatively good quality of life and 20.2 percent had a good quality of life. The highest score in the nine dimensions of quality of life belong to pain score (57.6%) and the lowest mean score attributed to physical health problems.

Conclusion: The results of this study provide valuable information for professionals and policy makers to enhance patients’ quality of life by strengthening and supporting policies.

Introduction and purpose: Aging population is accompanied with several elderly-related issues such as psychological disorders which influence their mental health status. Spiritual intelligence is the foundation of individual beliefs that performs fundamental role in various fields of human life especially in promoting mental health and quality of life. The purpose of this research was to assess effect of spiritual intelligence on quality of life and psychological well being among elderly residing at nursing homes.

Materials & Methods: This quasi-experiment study was conducted among 50 elderly residing at a nursing home in Bandar Abbas city (N:124). Participants were categorized in two groups of intervention and control using convenience-sampling method. Data were collected by two questionnaires including quality of life (SF-12) questionnaire and psychological well-being (RPWB). The intervention group received 15 educational sessions on spiritual intelligence which last for two months. Questionnaires were administrated prior to intervention, at the last session of intervention and two months after intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measurement analysis and Post hoc test.

Findings:  Our results showed that level of quality of life and psychological well-being was significantly different (P<0.0001) between interventions and controls. In addition, we found that quality of life and psychological well-being significantly improved after intervention (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: According to the findings from this study, intervention on spiritual intelligence effectively enhances quality of life and psychological well-being of Elderly.

Introduction and purpose: Understanding factors affect quality of life at old age is considered as an important social issue particularly when population is ageing.  Acquiring such information play a vital role in enhancing quality of life among elderly. Therefore, this study aimed to assess factors affecting quality of life in nursing homes-residing elderly people.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 73 female elderly living in the nursing homes of Khoramshahr and Ahvaz city. Data were collected using two questionnaires including demographic characteristics and the SF-36 questionnaire. Data analysis was done by SPSS 13.

Findings: Results from the present study showed that mean age of participants was 52.75 (S.D= 11.39) years old which ranged from 60 to 102 years. There was a significant association between quality of life and education (P<0.05), age (P=0.03), chronic disease (P<0.01) and place of residence (P=0.4). However, no significant association was observed between quality of life and marital status (P=0.62), length of stay in nursing home (P=0.4) and income (P=0.3).

Conclusion: In general, elderly living in nursing homes reported lower quality of life compared to community-dwelling elderly. Therefore, nursing homes are recommended to create more caring and compassionate environment that is similar to elderly’s own home.  In addition, family members and friends are suggested to visit elderly residing in nursing homes on a regular basis in order to improve their quality of life.

Introduction and purpose: Improved quality of life is considered as the ultimate goal in the care provided for elderly residing in nursing homes. However, there is a tendency to believe that nature of living in the nursing homes is accompanied with lower quality of life. This study aimed to assess quality of life among elderlies living at nursing home in Shahroud city.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study employed census-sampling method to include 53 elderlies living in Shahroud nursing homes. Data were collected using Short Form Quality of Life (SF-36) questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS 18 via independent t-test, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis.

Findings:The mean score of total QOL was 53.76 (SD=32.10). The highest and lowest quality of life belonged to “social performance” (69.80±45.23) and “Emotional role playing” (32.29±28.13), respectively. In addition, quality of life was significantly (p<0.05) associated with age, gender, educational level and length of stay in nursing homes.

Conclusion: Quality of life among nursing homes residents was low in emotional role-playing, physical performance and general health subscales. Accordingly, designing and implementing appropriate educational and supportive interventions to promote elderly’s QOL are of great importance.

Introduction and purpose: The dramatic increase in average life expectancy resulted in increasing number of old population. The importance of improving quality of life in elderly has been highlighted recently. Therefore, the first step to promote quality of life in elderly is to acquire comprehensive information on this field. The aim of this study was to assess quality of life for elderly residents in nursing home.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 141 elderly residents of Kahrizak nursing home selected using census sampling method. Quality of life was measured using the SF36 questionnaire which assesses different dimensions of quality of life. The possible range of score for SF36 questionnaire was from 0 to 100 and the higher scores indicate higher quality of life.

Findings: Results of this study showed that mean age of participants was 72.72 (SD=8.64) years old and about 52% of them were men. The mean score for quality of life was 50.36 (SD=11.3) and men’s quality of life was significantly (P<0.001) higher than women. Our findings showed that widows and illiterate elderly had lower score of quality of life compared to their counterparts.

Conclusion: Quality of life for elderly participated in this study was moderate and women reported lower quality of life compared to men. Therefore, factors affecting quality of life of older people especially, older women should be considered more carefully.

Introduction and purpose:: Number of patients with chronic renal failure is increasing during the last two centuries and 40% of these patients are elderly. This study aimed to evaluate and compare quality of life between elderly undergone hemodialysis and healthy elders in the city of Ilam.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 40 old patients under hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months and 40 healthy elderly living in the community with no chronic diseases. We used SF-36 questionnaire to measure level of quality of life. Data were analyzed by  SPSS version 20 using t-test and ANOVA.

Findings:Our findings revealed a significant difference (P<0.05)   in the mean score of quality of life among patients under hemodialysis treatment (28.5 ± 5.16) and healthy elders (65.17 ± 11.83). There was a significant (p<0.001) relationship between quality of life and gender as well as income among hemodialysis patients. In contrast, there was only a significant association between quality of life and gender, but not income, among healthy elderly.

Conclusion: According to the findings from this study, level of quality of life among elderly under hemodialysis treatment was low.  Therefore, it would be beneficial to pay more attention toward quality of life among elderly undergoing hemodialysis.

Introduction and purpose: Menopause is accompanied with physical, psychological and social changes that affect women's quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of 10 weeks combined exercise on quality of life among sedentary menopausal women.

Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, twenty four postmenopausal women (50 -65 years) were randomly placed into two groups of training and controls. Women in the training group, performed 10 weeks of combined exercises including 2 walking sessions per week and 2 resistance training sessions per week. Control group did not participate in any physical activity exercise. Quality of life was measured by the mental and physical health (SF-36) at baseline and after completion of 10 weeks of exercise. Data were analyzed by SPSS18 using independent t-test and paired t-test.

Findings: We found no significant difference in the mean scores of quality of life after intervention in the case group compared to controls (P>0.05). Whereas, there was significant differences (P<0.05) between case and controls in terms of mean scores of quality of life’s dimensions such as psychology, physical activity, social activity, physical action and satisfaction after intervention.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, short-term combined exercise training (10 weeks) is not able to improve quality of life among inactive postmenopausal women.

Introduction and purpose: Falls and fear of falling are elderly outcomes and are of main health-related problems in older adults. Purpose of this research was to compare health-related quality of life and functional fitness of older adults with and without fear of falling and fall history.

Materials and Methods: Research method was descriptive and population were men older adults living in Arak that 91 subjects eligible participate in the study voluntarily.  Variables measured with SF-36, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, Senior Functional Fitness Battery, MMSE, and Fall frequency. Data analyzed with independent t-student and with SPSS-16 software.

Findings: The results indicated that about 32% and 27% of subjects had fear of falling and fall history, respectively. Mean scores of subjects in without fear of falling group than with fear of falling counterparts in all subscales of quality of life and functional fitness(exception of flexibility) was higher significantly (p≤ .05).  Mean scores of subjects in without fall history group than with fall history group in subscales of quality of life and functional fitness (exception of flexibility) was better significantly (p≤ .05).

Conclusion: Fear of falling and fall history results in avoidance of daily living activities and this activities avoidance may cause functional fitness decline and in results decline in older adults' quality of life and health.

Introduction and purpose: Lifestyle as we age, and seniors as well as children and grandchildren live in higher quality of life than other seniors, they aim of this study was to compare the cognitive distortions and quality of life in older women with a husband without a wife and disengagement were.

Methods and Materials: This study was Lymqays hay management. The study sample included all women aged 60 years and above in the city of Hamadan that 120 patients (40 in each group) were selected through random sampling. Ellis cognitive distortions to the questionnaire and quality of life questionnaire responded Varvshrbvn. For data analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, Scheffe post hoc test, Pearson correlation and linear regression was used.

Findings: The results showed that the three groups studied cognitive distortions and quality of life are different. The cognitive distortions hasty conclusions, emotional argument, labeling and personalization in women without husbands and women who were divorced than married women had cognitive distortions.

Conclusion: All ten cognitive distortions and quality of life of women without husbands and women who were divorced were negative and cognitive distortions exaggerated generalization, all or nothing thinking, reasoning, emotional, labeling and personalization, the ability to predict people's quality of life .

Introduction and purpose: In the process of development, retirement is a stage of beginning for important potential changes in life and this stage effect on quality life of the retirements. So, present study with the aim of investigating prediction of quality of life through locus of control, meaning of life and marital relationships was performed on retirements of Nahanavand of Iran.

Materials and methods: This is a survey study and from correlational type. The population of the present study were all the retirements of Nahavand which based on previous literature 200 of them were selected through random sampling as study sample. Tools were Rotter's Locus of Control Scale (RLCS), Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ), Marital Status Inventory and WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL-26). Data were analyzed through correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression.

Findings: The results of the study showed significant relationship between dependent and independent variables including: a positive weak relation between locus of control and quality of life, a positive medium relation between search for meaning and quality of life, a positive pretty strong relation between presence of meaning and quality of life and finally a negative pretty strong relation between marital status and quality of life. In addition, the results of regression analysis showed that presence of meaning can predict quality of life positively and marital status which higher scores in it means more disruptions in marital relationship, can predicts quality of life negatively and the other independent variables were excluded because of low Beta coefficients. 

conclusion: Based on study results it could be said that individuals with internal control, feeling purposeful in life and more marital satisfaction can deal with retirement better than others and even they can experience a successful retirement which results in experience higher levels of quality of life.

Introduction and purpose:considering of Specific needs, attention to health behaviors and quality of life in the elderly is a very important issue that is mostly ignored. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life of elderly women in nursing homes in Shiraz and its association with physical activity.

Materials and Methods: A total of 186 elderly women above the 65 years voluntary selected and participated in this study. Information were collected via International Physical Activity standard Questionnaire SF36 quality of life questionnaires. To analyze the data we used of SPSS/18, and Spearman correlation test, Kruskal-Wallis and  U Mann-Whitney (α= 0.05).

Findings: The results of present study showed that there are significant correlation between physical activity and quality of life in elderly women (p=0.001).also Quality of life in sedentary older women was significantly lower than enough mobility older women (p=0.001).

Conclusion: according of result we can said that participation in physical activity has a significant positive correlation with improved quality of life, therefore recommended to officials that used of physical activity as a means to improve the quality of life of elderly living in nursing homes.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed on all the elderly living in Kahrizak. Three hundred elderly people were selected by random sampling according to the research criteria. To collect data, a standard self-efficacy questionnaire (GSE-10) and Short Quality of Life Quality Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) were used. Data were collected by SPSS version 22 using descriptive statistics including frequency, mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics including test independent t test, anova test, Pearson correlation coefficient, analysis of variance and linear regression analysis. 

Results: The mean score of self-efficacy was 28 and the quality of life score in the general health dimension was 27.66% poor, 50% moderate and 22.33% good case, and for one unit increase in self-efficacy score, the mean score of quality of life in health The body was as much as 0.58, in the mental health dimension of 0.59, in the social dimension of 0.47, in the environmental health environment 0.71 and in the general health was 0.78.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, self-efficacy has a significant relationship with quality of life, and the quality of life score increases with increasing self-efficacy score.