Browsing by Subject "Cognitive dysfunction"

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    DATA SET HELPeN Project Prevalence Unwanted Loneliness
    (2026-03-10) Hernández López, María Jesús; Hernández Méndez, Solanger; Leal Costa, César; Ramos Morcillo, Antonio Jesús; Díaz García, Isidora; López Pérez, María Verónica; García González, Jessica; Ruzafa Martínez, María; Enfermería; Facultad de Enfermería
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    DATA SET HELPeN Project Reducing Loneliness
    (2026-03-10) Hernández López, María Jesús; García González, Jessica; Leal Costa, César; Ramos Morcillo, Antonio Jesús; Díaz García, Isidora; López Pérez, María Verónica; Hernández Méndez, Solanger; Ruzafa Martínez, María; Enfermería; Facultad de Enfermería
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    Prevalence of unwanted loneliness and associated factors in people over 65 years of age in a health area of the Region of Murcia, Spain: HELPeN Project
    (MDPI, 2024-09-21) Hernández López, María Jesús; Hernández Méndez, Solanger; Leal Costa, César; Ramos Morcillo, Antonio Jesús; Díaz García, Isidora; López Pérez, María Verónica; García González, Jessica; Ruzafa Martínez, María; Enfermería; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Enfermería
    Background/Objectives: Population aging poses many challenges to public health, highlighting loneliness and social isolation as severe problems that affect the physical and mental health of older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these became aggravated. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of loneliness and its relationship with social isolation, depression, cognitive deterioration, sleep quality, and the level of physical mobility and functioning of older adults in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia. Methods: A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was performed. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65, living in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia, and not being institutionalized. The following variables were evaluated: sociodemographic variables, loneliness (UCLA scale), social isolation (DUFSS), depression (GDS), cognitive deterioration (Pfeiffer), sleep quality (PSQI), and mobility (Barthel index). A univariate and multivariate regression model was created to examine how the dependent variable was related to the independent variables. Results: A total of 102 older adults participated in the study. Of these, 31.4% perceived unwanted loneliness and 14.7% low social support. The multivariate regression analysis showed that social isolation, geriatric depression, and cognitive deterioration were significant predictors of loneliness. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of developing multifaceted interventions that address not only social isolation but also other interrelated factors such as depression, cognitive deterioration, and sleep quality. The strategies should be centered on community programs and support networks. It is fundamental to perform longitudinal studies to better understand the causal relationships between these variables.
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    Reducing loneliness and social isolation through the HELPeN telephone-call program: results from a randomized controlled trial in older adults living in the community
    (MDPI, 2026) Hernández López, María Jesús; García González, Jessica; Leal Costa, César; Ramos Morcillo, Antonio Jesús; Díaz García, Isidora; López Pérez, María Verónica; Hernández Méndez, Solanger; Ruzafa Martínez, María; Enfermería; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Enfermería
    Background/Objectives: Loneliness is a significant public health issue among older adults, especially in rural and socioeconomically vulnerable groups. Telephone-based interventions have become a scalable, cost-effective way to reduce social isolation, although evidence of their long-term effects on various health outcomes remains limited. This study aimed to assess how effective HELPeN, a structured telephone program delivered by trained nursing students, is in decreasing loneliness and enhancing psychosocial and cognitive health in community-living older adults. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 119 older adults (≥65 years) residing in the community. Participants were allocated to either an intervention group (n = 65), which received weekly structured telephone calls over 9 months, or a control group (n = 54), which received standard care. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline (M0), mid-intervention (M1–M3), and 3 months after the intervention (M4). The primary outcomes measured included loneliness and perceived social support. Secondary outcomes comprised functional status, comorbidities, depressive symptoms, quality of life, sleep quality, and cognitive function. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction. Results: Significant group interactions over time were identified for loneliness (F = 5.92, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.067), social support (F = 3.39, p = 0.023, η2 = 0.043), depressive symptoms (F = 3.87, p = 0.019, η2 = 0.046), and cognitive status (F = 5.35, p = 0.002, η2 = 0.063). No significant differences were found for functional status, comorbidity, sleep quality, or quality of life. Conclusions: The HELPeN program demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing loneliness and social isolation, and in improving emotional, cognitive, and sleep-related outcomes in older adults. As a low-cost and scalable model, this intervention strengthens the role of nursing students in addressing social determinants of health and may be integrated into community and public health strategies targeting vulnerable aging populations.