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Background: The motherhood myth has been associated with perceptions of idealised motherhood which makes it difficult for women to express related struggles or distress. This is a second follow-up study focusing on the experiences of mothers from the United Kingdom (UK) and Israel. Methods: Forty-one women were interviewed about their experience of motherhood, body-image, feeding and well-being. Interviews were analysed thematically. Data were driven by the following questions: 1. how do Israeli and UK women experience motherhood 6–12 months postpartum? 2. Are these experiences associated with body satisfaction and well-being? 3. Whether perceptions of motherhood remained stable or changed from early (<6 months) to 12 months postpartum. Results: Three meta-themes were derived from the data relating to motherhood as ideal, good enough or burdened. Such experiences were associated with body acceptance and well-being. The ideal mother was associated with lack of preoccupation with body image whereas the good enough mother aspired to reclaim her mind and her old body. Our findings suggested that the burdened mothers' struggles in relating to motherhood often correlated to a negative body image. Israeli women perceived motherhood as ideal in the early and later postpartum whereas UK mothers continued to relate to their motherhood as ideal 6–12 months postpartum. Conclusions: Perceptions of motherhood varied between Israeli and UK mothers suggesting a diversity positively associated with culture and country. Encouraging mothers to openly share their perceptions of motherhood could lead to improvements in maternal well-being and more positive interactions with the newborn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adults suffer high morbidity and mortality following serious infections, and hospital admissions with these conditions are increasingly common. Antibiotic prescribing in the older adult population, especially in long-term care facilities, has been argued to be inappropriately high. In order to develop the evidence base and provide support to GPs in achieving antimicrobial stewardship in older adults it is important to understand their attitudes and beliefs toward antibiotic prescribing in this population.Objectives: To understand the attitudes and beliefs held by GPs regarding antibiotic prescribing in older adults.Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 GPs working in the UK. Data analysis followed a modified framework approach.Results: GPs described antibiotic prescribing in older adults as differing from prescribing in other age groups in a number of ways, including prescribing broad-spectrum, longer and earlier antibiotics in this population. There were also rationales for situations where antibiotics were prescribed despite there being no clear diagnosis of infection. Trials of antibiotics were used both as diagnostic aids and in an attempt to avoid admission. The risks of antibiotics were understood, but in some cases restrictions on antibiotic use were thought to hamper optimal management of infection in this age group.Conclusions: Diagnosing serious infections in older adults is challenging and antibiotic prescribing practices reflect this challenge, but also reflect an absence of clear guidance or evidence. Research that can fill the gaps in the evidence base is required in order to support GPs with their critical antimicrobial stewardship role in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Older adults are at risk of functional decline during emergency hospital admissions. This review aims to understand which exercise-based interventions are effective in improving function for older adults who experience unplanned admissions.Methods: Database searches identified randomised control trials (RCTs) comparing exercise-based interventions with usual hospital care. The primary outcome was functional status measured by activities of daily living (ADL) scores. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay (LOS), mortality and readmissions. Sub-group meta-analyses were conducted on interventions delivered in-hospital only compared with interventions provided both in hospital and after discharge.Results: After reviewing 8365 studies, nine were eligible for inclusion. Seven were included in the meta-analysis. Participants from five countries had a mean age of 79 years (1602 participants). Usual care varied considerably and the interventions showed heterogeneity, with different combinations of strengthening, resistance, high-intensity or mobility exercises. There were limited descriptions of exercise intervention delivery and participant adherence. There is low-quality evidence supporting exercise interventions that have both in-hospital and post-discharge components (3 trials, SMD 0.56 (-0.02, 1.13)). Trials involving only in-hospital interventions were inconclusive for functional gains (5 trials, SMD -0.04 (-0.31, 0.22)).Conclusions: Exercise-based rehabilitation for older patients after emergency hospitalisation improves functional ability if the intervention starts in hospital and continues after discharge. No conclusions can be made regarding the effective exercise 'dose' or content.Implications: Understanding the components of exercise interventions will improve service planning and delivery. Further studies are needed to understand the effective 'dose' and content of exercise for hospitalised older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a survey that was conducted to discover what physical and psychological factors contribute to marathon race time. Mentioned variables include training mileage, age and experience, locus of control, competitive anxiety, and repression-sensitization. The original study was published in the article "Physical training and personality factors as predictors of marathon time and training injury," in the 1985 publication of "Perceptual and Motor Skills."