Background Mothers with infants and toddlers are a potential target population for the prevention or alleviation of feelings of loneliness. However, the theory and methods for measuring loneliness among mothers with infants and toddlers have yet to be standardized worldwide, including in Japan. Our goal was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-LS3-J), as well as two short-form versions—the 10-item UCLA-LS3 (SF-10) and the 3-item UCLA-LS3 (SF-3)—for the measurement of loneliness in mothers with infants and toddlers in Japan. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-report questionnaire. The target population was 430 mothers with infants and toddlers who visited a community health center in Yokohama City in Japan. Questionnaire items encompassed the UCLA-LS3-J, as well as demographic data, the feeling for childrearing scale, and measures of social networks and subjective health status. The reliability and validity of the UCLA-LS3-J and its two short-form versions (SF-3 and SF-10) were determined via IBM SPSS Amos and SPSS Statistics 22. Results Questionnaires were returned by 248 mothers (valid response rate: 57.7%) aged 32.7 ± 4.6 (mean ± SD) years. The mean score on the UCLA-LS3-J was 38.4 ± 9.7 (range 20.0–73.0), with a normal distribution. When confirmatory factor analysis was carried out (for a single factor model), the goodness of fit of the model was almost identical to that of the original UCLA-LS3 version for the UCLA-LS3-J: (GFI = 0.882, AGFI = 0.840, CFI = 0.932, RMSEA = 0.066) and SF-10: (GFI = 0.942, AGFI = 0.900, CFI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.081). The SF-3 model also showed an acceptable fit. The UCLA-LS3-J total score was significantly correlated with the total score on the SF-10 (r = 0.965) and SF-3 (r = 0.868). The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the UCLA-LS3-J was 0.926, while those of the SF-10 and SF-3 were 0.888 and 0.790, respectively. The score on the UCLA-LS3-J was positively correlated with childcare burden (r = .319, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with social networks (r = −.438, p < 0.001). Conclusions This study indicated that the reliability and validity of the UCLA-LS3-J as well as its two short-form versions were adequate for assessing loneliness in mothers with infants and toddlers in Japan. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12905-019-0792-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This study reports the effects of a reminiscence group program on elderly people with two major types of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, in a randomized controlled clinical trial with a 6-month follow up. The subjects were 24 participants with Alzheimer's disease and 36 with vascular dementia, and were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group followed a reminiscence group program in a geriatric health facility for 8 weeks; the control group followed a routine daycare program. The primary outcome was level of daily life activities (i.e. self-care, disorientation, depression, irritability and withdrawal) measured by the Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects. The second outcome was level of cognitive function measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination. For participants with Alzheimer's disease, the intervention group exhibited significant improvement of withdrawal compared with the control group immediately after intervention (P < 0.05). For participants with vascular dementia, the intervention group exhibited significant improvement of withdrawal and cognitive function compared with the control group immediately after intervention (withdrawal, P < 0.05; cognitive function, P < 0.05) and after 6-month follow up (withdrawal, P < 0.05; cognitive function, P < 0.05). The reminiscence group program is an effective means of enhancing the remaining capacity and the adaptation to a daily life in elderly people with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. However, it is also suggested that sustained intervention may be necessary to maintain the effect over time, especially in elderly people with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Malnutrition among the elderly has become a serious problem as their population increases in Japan. To approach the risk of malnutrition in the healthy, community-dwelling elderly is important for early prevention of malnutrition. The nutritional status and mutable associated factors with poor nutritional status specific to the healthy elderly were examined comprehensively. Methods:One hundred and thirty healthy elderly people from a senior college in Tokyo, Japan were eligible for this study. Nutritional status was evaluated by Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The demographic status and potential correlates with poor nutritional status, including the physical factors (mobility, cognitive impairment and oral status) and the psychosocial factors (depression, self-efficacy, attitudes toward health, instrumental activities of daily living, public health service knowledge, and difficulty and dissatisfaction with meal preparation) were investigated. The multiple linear regression analysis using a stepwise procedure adjusted for demographic status was performed to detect independent associated factors.Results: There were 16 participants (12.6%) at risk of malnutrition. The independent associated factors with lower MNA scores were depression (b = -0.27, P = 0.005), lower self-efficacy (b = 0.25, P = 0.009), lower attitudes toward health scores (b = 0.21, P = 0.02) and difficulty with meal preparation (b = -0.18, P = 0.03). Conclusion:The prevalence of the healthy elderly at the initial risk of malnutrition was relatively high and should not be overlooked. The comprehensive geriatric screening and intervention including mental health, health management and life-situation will be important for the healthy, community-dwelling elderly.

The results of this study suggest that a dressing with a low-friction external surface (such as the pressure ulcer preventive dressing) can significantly reduce shear force. However, results also suggest that external dressings do not significantly reduce interface pressures and cannot be used as a substitute for heel elevation in an immobile patient.