This
is the first issue of the journal for 2019 and we continue
with our MENAR/MEAMA third project that deals with ageing
in the Arab World. A well written review from Jordan
looked at the situation of the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan. It is a small, almost entirely landlocked country
divided administratively into 12 governorates. Economically,
it is an upper middle-income country with a gross domestic
product (GDP) per capita of $ 5,749 (PPP) in 2010, and
with annual growth rate of 2.5% in the years 1990-2009
(Nations, 2013-2017 Jordan: United Nations Development
Assistance Framework, 2011). Due to its location, in
the heart of the Middle East, the country has witnessed
many political conflicts including the wars in 1948,
1967 and the Arab Spring in 2011. These
events have affected the demographics and structure
of the country and as a result it has transformed from
a sparsely populated country to one with nine million
people. This rapid growth has led to doubling of the
population in the last few decades, with another doubling
expected to ensue again by 2050. Importantly, however,
is the demographic transition the country is undergoing,
as it moves from high fertility and mortality, to low
fertility and mortality. As a result, Jordans
demographics will further change dramatically
a change that has the potential to translate into dividend
or disaster for the country. This altering of the populations
age structure might lead to fundamental changes in parents
perceptions of what their children can and should achieve.
Over the next 30 years, Jordan will see the relative
size of its working age population more than double.
It can also expect demand for quality education and
health care to rise, and for people to save increasing
proportions of their income, so that they can maintain
a reasonable standard of living in their old age. Policies
will be needed to continue to reduce fertility rates,
anticipate future retirement needs, and address issues
that might impede efficient use of the anticipated new
labor, national savings, and human capital. (Bloom,
et al., 2001).
Kasim Z et al reviewed Screening
for Frailty and Sarcopenia in Primary Care. They stressed
that the global population aging and its associated
challenges result in increased burden on our health
care system. The policy of many countries is therefore
becoming more focused on preventive programs for geriatric
syndromes. Frailty and sarcopenia are two emerging syndromes
that are usually overlooked and undertreated in clinical
practice. Early identification of these conditions by
primary care physicians, would postpone and even reverse
the progression towards disability and other negative
health outcomes. This narrative review aims to discuss
and propose reliable and feasible screening tools for
frailty and sarcopenia in primary care. The authors
reviewed Pub Med. Three widely used frailty models and
three screening methods of sarcopenia are summarized.
The applicability of these models and screening methods
in primary care is discussed. Recommendations regarding
the screening are formulated and the benefits of building
a structured model based on preventive medicine are
highlighted. The authors concluded that screening for
physical frailty and sarcopenia in primary care using
the FRAIL and SARC-F questionnaires respectively.
Two papers from Egypt looked
at mental health. The first paper investigated the effect
of family intervention on the caregivers burden,
depression, anxiety and stress among relatives of depressed
patients. A quasi- experimental design was conducted
at the inpatient and outpatient Psychiatric Department
Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt. Ninety five families
were participated in this study (n = 95). Pre-tests
and post-tests (n = 95), and 3-months after intervention
were eighty six (n = 86). The findings of the study
indicate that caregivers burden, depression, anxiety
and Stress level significantly reduced, and quality
of life significantly improved after implementation
of family intervention. There is a negative correlation
between QOL and Caregivers burden, their feeling
of depression, anxiety and stress. based on the current
results, it can be concluded that caregivers burden,
depression, anxiety and stress are highly prevalent
among caregivers of patients with depression and significant
improved after implementation of family intervention
one month after, moreover slightly decreased three months
after intervention. This conclusion leads to accept
the hypothesis of the study that family interventions
along with anti-depressant drugs improve the caregivers
burden, QOL, feeling of depression, anxiety and stress.
Further research is needed to follow the intervention
6 and 12 months after family intervention.
The second paper assessed
the effect of Interpersonal Psycho-Therapy (IPT) on
the depression and loneliness among the elderly residing
in residential homes. The findings of the study indicate
that depression; loneliness, social interaction, ADL
and sleeping pattern were significantly improved after
implementation of interpersonal psychotherapy one month
and three months after. There was a statistically significant
positive correlation between depression and sleeping
hours, insomnia, ADL and loneliness. While social interaction
and social support was a negative correlation with depression.
Based on the results of this study we recommend use
of IPT to improve the Bio-Psycho-Social condition of
the elderly and should be integrate IPT as basic intervention
as well physical intervention to improve mental condition
and prevent mental disorders.
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