Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between dental anxiety (DA) and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among rural community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 390 rural community-dwelling older adults attending outpatient clinics of the Damanhur National Medical Institute during the year 2021. Three instruments were used: a demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule, Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-5) questionnaire. All statistical analyses were considered significant at a p-value of ≤0.001. Results: The main results showed that the prevalence of DA among participants was 90.5%, and 66.9% of the studied elderly population were either extremely (phobic) or very anxious. Moreover, a significant association was found between older adults’ DA and their OHRQoL (p ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that DA represents a common problem among rural community-dwelling older adults and is a predictor for poor OHRQoL. Raising community awareness about the importance of oral health and implementing measures to avoid DA through specialized community campaigns is recommended, particularly in rural areas.

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The current cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to explore the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–related health literacy, perceived risk, and intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. A sample of 414 older adults completed several questionnaires regarding COVID-19 risk perception, intention to vaccinate, and health literacy. Results revealed that more than one half of older adults demonstrated perceived high risk related to COVID-19 infection. Moreover, 31.6% of older adults noted their unwillingness to get vaccinated, and 39.4% demonstrated low health literacy regarding COVID-19. A significant positive correlation was found among older adults' perceived risk regarding COVID-19 infection, intention toward vaccination against COVID-19, and COVID-19–related health literacy. Findings serve to aid the Ministry of Health in planning proactive steps to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in older adults. [ Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15 (2), 57–67.]

The communicative behavior of caregivers plays a pivotal pillar to remaining the older adults in the center of the universe instead of yield to be marginalized or ignored. This descriptive correlational study aimed to investigate the predictive capacity of the caregivers' communicative behavior and examines its correlations to the older adults' perceived sense of psychological well-being and degree of social engagement inside the assisted living facility. A convenience sample of 116 older residents and 56 caregivers was obtained. Five tools were used to conduct this study; (1) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), (2) Elders' profile structured interview schedule, (3) perceived psychological well-being of the older adults, (4) A revised Index for Social Engagement for longterm care, and (5) Communication problems Observation checklist. The study revealed that more than half (57.75%) of the studied elders had a high level of social engagement inside the assisted living facility and about one-third (32.8%) have a moderate level of perceived psychological wellbeing. The elders' caregivers were having a fair to a high level of communicative behavioral skills when dealing with the older adults inside the assisted living facilities. Also, a strong positive correlation was detected between the caregivers' communicative behavior in relation to the older adults' perceived sense of psychological well-being and degree of social engagement. The present study concludes that the caregivers' communicative behavior was identified to be the independent precursor of the older adults' perceived sense of psychological well-being and social engagement inside the assisted living facility. An on-job communication training program geared toward enhancing the caregivers' knowledge and skills related to effective communication with institutionalized elders is recommended.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) is a viable and widely prescribed therapeutic option for older adults with End Stage Renal Disease. Even though anxiety is one of the most common difficulties that HD patients face and frequently linked to depression, a lower perceived quality of life, and a lack of therapeutic adherence. As non-pharmacological therapies are safer to use in the management of geriatric patients' disorders, implementing of such approaches to reduce anxiety levels is a worthwhile goal for the gerontological nurse. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of lavender oil inhalation versus acupressure on anxiety level of geriatric patients undergoing hemodialysis. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized.