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Community Physiotherapy And Chronic Disease Self-Management For Rural Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Laura J. Graham

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research problem: The majority of older Canadians live with at least one chronic disease. Exercise has been shown to be an effective means to reducing symptoms, and to improving physical dysfunction in chronically ill populations; and self-management is a nationally advocated approach to dealing with the growing health care issue of chronic disease. Physiotherapists are experts in prescribing therapeutic exercise and promoting chronic disease self-management.

Methods: This two-study dissertation explored older adults’ perceptions of exercise as a self-care activity within a chronic disease self-management strategy using focused ethnography; and physiotherapists’ experiences in promoting exercise as a means to chronic disease …

Observations Of Mealtimes In Hospital Aged Care Rehabilitation Wards, Karen Walton, Peter Williams, Linda Tapsell, Matthew Hoyle, Zhi Wei Shen, Lauren Gladman, Martin Nurka

Peter Williams

Malnutrition is common in long-stay elderly hospitalized patients and their dietary intakes are often poor, despite the provision of adequate quantities of food to meet patient needs. The aim of this study was to identify environmental factors that were associated with achieving adequate food consumption in a hospital context. This study observed the daily routines of 30 elderly patients over 2 days in rehabilitation wards in three Australian hospitals. All activities associated with mealtimes were recorded, from the commencement of breakfast to the conclusion of supper at the end of the day. Four key themes emerged: the eating location; assistance …