Journal of Neurological, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Assessment and Comparison of Cognitive Impairment among the Elderly Population residing in Old Age Homes and in Personal Home Settings

2025-10-16T05:50:42+00:00

Background: Cognitive impairment is a significant, yet often overlooked, public health issue in India, especially when compared to more developed nations. For older Indians, an undiagnosed cognitive decline can progress to dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Since there is currently no cure, the primary focus is on timely preventive measures to lessen the disease burden.

Aim: The research aimed to assess and compare the differences in cognitive impairment among older individuals residing in old age homes versus those living in their own homes.

Methodology: This cross-sectional investigation collected data from two groups of older adults 50 living in the community and 50 residing in old age homes to measure cognitive function with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Frequencies and percentages were used to present categorical variables such as gender, age group, educational level, and marital status. The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to compare cognitive function across its different dimensions (orientation, registration, attention and calculation, repetition/recall, and language) for the two groups of elderly individuals.

Results: Older adults in old age homes scored significantly lower on the total MMSE score than those in the community (p=0.039). This cognitive gap is particularly evident in language skills, where a significant difference was also observed (p=0.024). Using an MMSE score of less than 24 as the cutoff for cognitive decline, the study found that 42.7% of old age home residents, versus 21.3% of community dwellers, showed signs of impairment, a statistically significant difference (p=0.026).

Conclusion: The incidence of cognitive decline was higher among older adults living in old age homes compared to those in the community. Improving living arrangements offers a practical way to preserve cognitive function in older people.

A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Planned Teaching Programme on the Knowledge of Primary School Teachers Regarding the Management of Selected Behavioral Problems in School Children in Selected English Medium Schools of Gandhinagar City, Gujarat

2025-08-21T04:59:30+00:00

Emotional instability and maladaptive in school going children can significantly hinder their overall development and often serve as early indicators of future antisocial behavior and psychological health challenges. Mental health concerns like anxiety disorders, mood disturbances, Oppositional Behaviour (ODD), hyperactivity and Attention regulation issues (ADHD), and behavioural conduct problems (CD) can emerge during these years, causing distress to both children and their families. These issues are associated with increased risks of low self-esteem, strained peer and family relationships, poor academic performance, early school dropout, adolescent homelessness, substance abuse, and even criminal behavior. This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of a structured educational intervention aimed at improving Level of understanding among primary teachers on dealing with selected behavioral problems among children in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The specific objectives were to assess baseline knowledge, implement the educational intervention, and examine the relationship between knowledge levels and identified socio-demographic attributes. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted, involving a sample of 60 primary school teachers Identified through a non-random sampling method. Data were gathered using a Standardized knowledge assessment tool. The findings revealed a marked improvement in knowledge after the intervention, with the mean post-test score rising to 19.05 from a pre-test score of 11.75, reflecting a mean difference of 7.3. This improvement was statistically significant, as indicated by a calculated t-value of 15.95. Furthermore, demographic factors such as gender were found to have a significant association with pre-test knowledge levels. To conclude, the investigation demonstrates that the structured educational intervention proved successful in improving teachers’ understanding of how to address behavioral issues in children.

A Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Adverse Effects of Social Networking in the Academic Performance Among Students

2025-09-09T12:42:34+00:00

Social media's impact on pupils' academic performance is a complex issue. Excessive social media use can lead to distractions, a reduced attention span, and poor time management. Addicts to social media may suffer from mental and physical health problems, which may lead to subpar academic results. Objectives: To assess the knowledge regarding adverse effect of social networking on their academic performance among students of Sarvodaya Nursing Institute, Faridabad (Haryana), with a view to develop an informational booklet. Materials and Methods: Quantitative research approach with a non-experimental (descriptive) research design was adopted for the study. Sixty students were selected through non-probability sampling technique (purposive sampling). The test was conducted by using self-structured knowledge questionnaire. Results: Collected data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study reveals that 50% have average knowledge, 30% have good knowledge, 3.3% have poor knowledge and 16.6% have excellent knowledge the mean score was 15.5, the median was 15 and SD was 0.70. The study concluded that 16.6% have excellent knowledge but have average knowledge about the adverse effect of social networking on their academic performance among students of Sarvodaya Nursing Institute, Faridabad (Haryana), with a view to develop an informational booklet which is provided by us. Conclusion: The study's findings reveal that students had a limited awareness or comprehension of the potential adverse effects of social networking.