Lisiane Manganelli Girardi Paskulin

Quality of Life of Older Adults in Canada and Brazil

In this study, we examined the factors contributing to quality of life (QOL) of older adults in regions of Canada and Brazil. The WHOQOL-BREF and a demographic data sheet were administered to random samples of 202 older adults from Canada and 288 from Brazil. Ratings on overall QOL and on the physical, psychological, and environmental domains were higher in the Canadian sample. Social domain scores were not significantly different. The authors found the same pattern of factors (health satisfaction, enough money, meaning in life, and opportunities for leisure activities) contributed to the variance of QOL in both countries, except for physical environment, which was significant in Brazil and not in Canada. Health satisfaction was the strongest contributor to QOL in both samples, and satisfaction with personal relationships was not significant in either country.

Factors associated with quality of life of Brazilian older adults.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to explore factors associated with quality of life (QoL) of Brazilian community-dwelling older adults. METHODS This was a descriptive exploratory cross-sectional study. Data were collected through a household survey. A random sample of 288 older adults from Porto Alegre, Brazil participated in the study. A demographic and health data sheet, the OARS activities of daily living (ADL) scale and the WHOQOL-BREF were administered. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The mean age of participants was 71.2 years (SD = 7.5) and 67.4% were female. Using multiple linear regression analysis, with overall QoL as the dependent variable, perceived health status, education level, engagement in physical activity, medical conditions, age group and use of primary health care were significant associated factors. With physical QoL as the dependent variable, significant factors included: perceived health status, medical conditions, education, physical activities and dependence in ADL; with social QoL as the dependent variable, only age group and paid work were significant. In relation to environmental QoL, education and perceived health were significant factors. CONCLUSIONS The results illustrate the complexity of factors influencing QoL. With a better understanding of these factors, it is possible to plan appropriate health interventions.

Functional capacity of elder elderly: comparative study in three regions of Rio Grande do Sul

Study conducted with secondary data from cross-sectional population-based studies developed in three regions of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), which aimed to compare the level of dependency for activities of daily living (ADL) of 155 older persons aged 80 years and over. Demographic data and the ADL scale from the 3 studies were used and a multinomial multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out. The older persons from the urban region of Porto Alegre/RS and from the Northern region of this state presented significantly higher severe dependency than people from the countryside. The results illustrate the heterogeneity of the aging process. Health policies and actions should be planned for the elder elderly in this state.Estudo realizado com dados secundarios de pesquisas populacionais transversais, desenvolvidas em tres regioes do Rio Grande do Sul, que teve por objetivo comparar o grau de dependencia para as atividades de vida diaria (AVD) de 155 idosos com 80 anos ou mais. Foram utilizadas questoes demograficas e a escala de AVD dos tres estudos e realizada analise multivariavel de regressao logistica multinomial. Os idosos da regiao urbana de Porto Alegre, RS, e do norte do Estado apresentaram, de modo estatisticamente significativo, maior dependencia grave que aqueles da regiao rural. Os resultados demonstram a heterogeneidade do processo de envelhecimento, levando a se recomendar o planejamento de politicas e acoes de saude a esse grupo etario no Estado.

Construção do conhecimento e do fazer enfermagem e os modelos assistenciais

Artigo de reflexao que enfoca as origens e as principais caracteris-ticas dos modelos clinico e epide-miologico, seus nexos com os mo-delos assistenciais vigentes no sis-]tema de saude brasileiro, e a cons-trucao do conhecimento da enfer-magem nesse contexto. Nessa perspectiva, as autoras propoem um repensar acerca do saber/fazer da enfermagem, apontando possibilidades de expansao do seu campo de atuacao, bem como dos limites e desafios a serem venci-dos pelos profissionais da area.This is a reflective paper focused on the origins and main characteristics of the epidemiological and clinical models, their connections with the health care models currently adopted in Brazil, and the construction of Nursing knowledge in this context. From this perspective, the authors propose a re-thinking of Nursing knowledge and practice, pointing out possibilities for expanding the Nursing field, as well as the boundaries and challenges to be overcome by the area professionals.

Percepção de pessoas idosas sobre qualidade de vida

Objectives: To explore the perception of quality of life of elders from a health care district in Porto Alegre, RS, and to identify the most common dimensions of voice by the elders. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using the following open question: What quality of life means to you? Participants consisted of 260 elders who were residents of Porto Alegre, RS. N-Vivo 2.0 was used to conduct content analysis by observing the dimensions of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-100 and the module WHOQOL-OLD. Results: The majority of participants reported that quality of life was synonym of good health. The most common dimensions of quality of life were positive feelings, personal relationships, and access to food. Conclusion: The study’s findings support that quality of life is a multidimensional construct that can be used to evaluated objectives and subjective parameters.

Quality of life of seniors living in the community and in long term care facilities: a comparative study

OBJETIVOS: comparar a percepcao da qualidade de vida entre idosos da comunidade de Porto Alegre, RS, e idosos institucionalizados do interior de Minas Gerais e identificar fatores associados a qualidade de vida entre esses idosos. METODO: trata-se de investigacao que utilizou dados secundarios, a partir de dois estudos epidemiologicos transversais. A amostra foi de 288 idosos da comunidade e 76 institucionalizados. Utilizaram-se instrumentos de caracterizacao sociodemografica e Whoqol-bref para avaliacao da qualidade de vida. RESULTADOS: na analise bivariada, evidenciou-se que idade, sexo, escolaridade, autoavaliacao de saude e lazer apresentaram diferencas estatisticamente significantes entre ser institucionalizado ou nao. Da mesma forma, os dominios de qualidade de vida psicologico e relacoes sociais apresentaram diferencas estatisticamente significantes. Na analise multivariada, as variaveis que permaneceram com correlacao significante no dominio psicologico foram escolaridade, avaliacao de saude e lazer e no dominio relacoes sociais, escolaridade e idade. CONCLUSAO: o fato de o idoso ser institucionalizado nao influenciou na percepcao da qualidade de vida dos idosos, mas, sim, as caracteristicas sociodemograficas e de saude.

Capacidade funcional de idosos de uma comunidade rural do Rio Grande do Sul

Cross-sectional study, conducted with 34 elder people from a rural community of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2008. The objective is to evaluate their functional capacity and to compare interest variables between sexes. The household survey addressed social, economic and demographic variables, aspects related to health/disease, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Scale of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) of the Older American Resources and Services (OARS). Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Compared to men, women were more likely to be more educated, have less community activities, have similar MEEM scores, worst health perception and were more dependent to perform ADL. The peculiarities of rural elder persons are highlighted, as well the need to tailor actions to promote their adaptability in this context and allow the minimization of disabilities.

Qualidade de vida de idosos da comunidade e de instituições de longa permanência: estudo comparativo

OBJETIVOS: comparar a percepcao da qualidade de vida entre idosos da comunidade de Porto Alegre, RS, e idosos institucionalizados do interior de Minas Gerais e identificar fatores associados a qualidade de vida entre esses idosos. METODO: trata-se de investigacao que utilizou dados secundarios, a partir de dois estudos epidemiologicos transversais. A amostra foi de 288 idosos da comunidade e 76 institucionalizados. Utilizaram-se instrumentos de caracterizacao sociodemografica e Whoqol-bref para avaliacao da qualidade de vida. RESULTADOS: na analise bivariada, evidenciou-se que idade, sexo, escolaridade, autoavaliacao de saude e lazer apresentaram diferencas estatisticamente significantes entre ser institucionalizado ou nao. Da mesma forma, os dominios de qualidade de vida psicologico e relacoes sociais apresentaram diferencas estatisticamente significantes. Na analise multivariada, as variaveis que permaneceram com correlacao significante no dominio psicologico foram escolaridade, avaliacao de saude e lazer e no dominio relacoes sociais, escolaridade e idade. CONCLUSAO: o fato de o idoso ser institucionalizado nao influenciou na percepcao da qualidade de vida dos idosos, mas, sim, as caracteristicas sociodemograficas e de saude.

Como é ser cuidado em casa : as percepções dos clientes

Este estudio calitativo de caracter exploratorio analizo la percepcion de los usuarios del Programa de Atendimiento Domiciliar del SSS-GHC, en Porto Alegre/RS sobre los cuidados recibidos por el equipo interdisciplinar y por sus cuidadores en el domicilio.Entre los 17 clientes entrevistados predominaron mujeres, ancianos y portadores de enfermedades cronico degenerativas. Del analisis resultaron cinco categorias, abordando el cuidado profesional y familiar, asi como las experiencias de los sujetos frente a las circunstancias de vida que deben enfrentar. Los resultados apuntan que los cuidados vivenciados fueron percibidos como humanizados y propiciadores de estrategia evaluativa del programa.This qualitative and exploratory study analyzed the perception of users of the Home Care Program (SSS-GHC) in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state regarding the assistance provided by its interdisciplinary team and caretakers. Among the 17 clients interviewed, there was a prevalence of women, elderly people and chronic degenerative disease patients. As a result of the analysis it was possible to identify five categories which were related to family, professional care and experiences of the subjects in relation to life circumstances. Results showed that, according to the clients point of view, the care received was viewed as humanized and favorable to the evaluative strategy of the Program.

Transcultural adaptation of the filial responsibility interview schedule for Brazil

BACKGROUND In developed countries, filial responsibility in relation to caring for elderly parents has been systematically studied. In Brazil and other developing countries, however, it is a relatively new topic and has not yet been included in the research agenda on ageing. OBJECTIVE To describe the process of cross-cultural adaptation of the qualitative phase of the filial responsibility interview schedule into Brazilian Portuguese. METHODS An expert committee of six team members participated in the study. In addition, individual interviews were held with 11 caregivers of older persons to evaluate the quality of the final Portuguese version of the schedule. The process included examining conceptual, item, semantic and operational equivalencies. Conceptual and item equivalencies were based on a literature review and on discussions with the expert committee. Semantic equivalence was attained through translation, back-translation, expert committee evaluation and pre-testing. The final version was pre-tested in caregivers of older persons enrolled in the home care programme of a primary health care service in Southern Brazil. RESULTS Conceptual, item, semantic and operational equivalencies were attained. Through the interviews, responses to the open-ended questions concerning filial responsibility in the care for elderly parents pertained to the following categories: possibility of institutionalization of elderly parents, caregiver expectations, difficulties in being a child caregiver and responsibility as a natural process. CONCLUSION The Portuguese version presented good semantic equivalence and the results showed that the concepts and items are applicable to the Brazilian context.