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A recent study published in BMC Geriatrics sought to “estimate the associations between survival probability of becoming a centenarian (SPBC) for those aged 70, and the gross national income, health expenditure, telecommunications, and sanitation facilities in 32 countries.” Data for this study was obtained from the United Nations Development Programme and the Human Mortality Database. The authors found a significant positive correlation between SPBC and the socioeconomic levels in all 32 countries. The study identified “higher overall economic development level, public expenditure on health, mobile telephone subscribers are standard of living, and the use of improved sanitation facilities,” as four [...]

Dr. Mancuso, a 2013 TRIPLL Pilot Awardee, was recently awarded a research grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Her research will focus on comparing patient’s and surgeons’ expectations of Lumber Spine Surgery. For more information about her research work click here

Join us at the 42nd Annual Conference of the State Society on Aging of New York, as Dr. Cary Reid (TRIPLL’s director) delivers a talk on Community-Based Palliative Care and the need for New Models of Service Delivery. The program highlights the priorities of the 2015 White House Conference on Aging – retirement security, long-term services and supports, healthy aging, and elder justice.

The authors of a recent study published in Pain Medicine, “investigated if older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) are more sedentary than a group of similar age and sex without CMP, and possible contributory factors to this.” The study enrolled 286 community-dwelling older adults, with an equal proportion of participants with and without CMP. Participants completed surveys on falls rate, pain inventory, activities, fear of falling, and participation in physical activity. The authors found that “older adults with CMP spent approximately 3 ½ hours a day more being sedentary than the comparison group." The authors concluded that "older adults with [...]

Emily Chen, TRIPLL Affiliate and Mentee, received a Francis G. Caro Student Paper Award at the University of Massachusetts. Her paper entitled "Social Diffusion of Advance Care Planning among Related Older Adults" was selected by the review committee at UMass Gerontology Department as the most outstanding doctoral level paper.

The authors of a recent study published in Addictive Behaviors reviewed the “present gaps in the literature on subjective and objective sleep disturbances among opioid dependent individuals” with pain.  The authors recruited 68 participants with pain who were assessed using the ”Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).” The authors conclude that “the findings highlight the importance of assessing and treating sleep disturbances, as well as pain, among patients with opioid dependence.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology examined “the knowledge and attitudes of 41 undergraduate nursing students regarding pain management.” Each nurse was asked to complete “a demographic data form, the Nurses' Attitude Survey, and the Pain Management Principles Assessment Tool.” The authors conclude that the “findings suggest the need to develop specific strategies to effectively teach undergraduate nursing students about pain management.” Full Story

A recent study published in American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation proposed “an educational module to instruct pain medicine fellows in the appropriate performance of interventional pain management techniques.” Participating fellow were “evaluated via patient surveys and 360-degree global rating scales, maintained procedure logs, and completed two patient-care reports; which were reviewed by program directors to ensure adequate completion.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in International Psychogeriatrics examined the relationship between chronic pain and depressive symptoms among older adults. The authors found that "overall, it may be that what is really important to emotional well-being is not so much pain itself, but rather the way in which the pain alters older people's lives." Full Story

The authors of a study published in Arthritis reviewed the extent to which "weight status impacts salient physical, health, and pain measures in older, knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients." The authors assessed differences in mobility performance, and pain symptoms as a function of weight status." The study results indicate that "normal weight subjects outperformed obese participants on most measures.” Full Story