Aliaa Mohammed Othman El_afandy^1,, Mayada Taha Mahmoud Sabea¹

Herpes zoster strikes millions of older adults annually worldwide and disables a substantial number of them via postherpetic neuralgia. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate herpes zoster epidemiological model's program: Its effects on elderly patients and their family caregivers. Research design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Out-patient Clinic of the Health Insurance Hospital in Helwan Distract. Subjects: A purposive sample was used to select 50 elderly patients and 50 of their family caregivers, who were included in this study. Tools: Used for data collection included an interviewing questioner, which consists of four parts: I. Socio-demographic characteristics of elderly patient and their family caregiver as age, gender, educational level, and occupation. II. Elderly patients and family caregiver's knowledge regarding herpes zoster as: meaning of the disease, causes, signs and symptoms, complications, and mode of transmission. III. An epidemiological model's information questionnaire that includes three aspects as; person, agent and environment. IV. Elderly patient's and family caregiver's practices regarding herpes zoster toward control and prevention as reported by them such as; patient isolation, using special equipment, using mask and gloves. Results: This study showed, statistically significant improvement of elderly patients' and family caregivers' knowledge, practices, and epidemiological model´s information regarding herpes zoster (3.66±2.401 to 7.70±4.0082, and 2.700±1.675 to 8.260±3.541) (4.140±4.646 to 8.600±2.777and 4.200± 4.458 to 9.240±1.559) (7.62±7.999 to 16.00±4.449 and 7.360±7.745 to 16.460±3.339) respectively post program implementation. Conclusion: Highly statistically significant effect on knowledge and practices of the elderly patients and family caregivers post epidemiological model's program. Recommendations: Dissemination of the epidemiological model for patients and family caregivers of herpes zoster during follow-up visits. An illustrated booklet should be provided with a description of disease control and prevention. Further researches are needed in other areas especially rural areas to estimate the effect of epidemiological model in disease prevention and control.

herpes zoster, epidemiological model, elderly patients, family caregivers