Maria de Lourdes de Farias Pontes

Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly Living in Community

Introduction: the elderly are affected by some chronic diseases that require comprehensive and continuous health care, among them depression, with disabling potential, compromising their quality of life. Objective: discovering the quality of life of seniors residing in community and their relationship with the symptoms of depression. Method: a quantitative study, observational, cross-sectional, whose sample included 110 elderly with preserved cognitive conditions and who agreed to participate voluntarily. Data collection was conducted from October to December 2013. Statistical analysis was performed using the software Statiscal Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20. Results: the quality of life assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF obtained the highest score in the field of social relations (73.93) and lowest score in the environmental field (61.27). The WHOQOL-OLD showed a higher score in sensory abilities facet (76.19) and lowest score on the facet autonomy (61.47). The correlation of quality of life with depressive symptoms presented the psychological domain and facet social participation with strong and negative association. Conclusion: the development of longitudinal studies becomes feasible for a better understanding of the phenomenon studied.

Activities Offered to the Elderly in Primary Health Care: Social Representations of Elderly and Professionals

Introduction: in the SUS, the Family Health Strategy, considered by the Ministry of Health as the elderly users’ gateway, is designed to reorient the health care of the population, promoting the quality of life. Objective: recognizing the social representations built by the elderly and health professionals about the activities offered to seniors in Primary Health Care Health Care. Method: an exploratory study of a qualitative approach based on Theoretical contribution of Social Representations in its dimensional approach conducted with 257 elderly and 249 professionals in the Family Health Units in the city of Joao Pessoa/Paraiba/Brazil. The collected data were processed with the SPSS 20.0 software and Iramuteq 0.6 alpha 3. Results: the results showed three classes: Dimensions associated with activities offered to the elderly, represented by: necessary, excellent, quality, poor, deficient and insufficient; Service improvement perspectives: improving, service, poor, lack, attention; and Professional dimensions in senior care, consisting of: importance, professionals, promote, quality of life, well-being, self-esteem. Conclusion: it is expected that this study will contribute to the reflection about the quality of activities offered to seniors in primary health care services and serves as a improvement for changes needed in the current context of the health of the elderly.

AGING AND INDIVIDUAL VULNERABILITY: A PANORAMA OF OLDER ADULTS ATTENDED BY THE FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY

Objective: identifying conditions of individual vulnerability in older adults and investigating the relationship with health indicators through a household survey. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 368 older adults attended by the Family Health Strategy. Data collection was performed through a structured interview, supported by instruments that include sociodemographic characterization, health indicators and the Vulnerable Elders Survey. A descriptive data analysis and Person’s chi-square test were also performed. Results: a prevalence of 52.2% individual vulnerability was found among older adults, in addition to an association with health problems, negative self-perception of health, difficulty with mobility and in performing activities of daily living. Conclusion: identifying vulnerability among the aged population is a relevant initiative for the adequacy of health policies and programs that prioritize the promotion of aging with the maintenance of functional capacity. DESCRIPTORS: Vulnerability health. Older adults. Primary health care. Nursing. ENVELHECIMENTO E VULNERABILIDADE INDIVIDUAL: UM PANORAMA DOS IDOSOS VINCULADOS À ESTRATÉGIA SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA

Older adults abuse in three Brazilian cities

Objective To analyze the police reports filed by older adults who suffered abuse in order to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of victims and aggressors, type of violence, location, as well as to compare rates in three Brazilian cities in the period from 2009 to 2013. Method Ecological study, in which 2,612 police reports registered in Police Stations were analyzed. An instrument was used to obtain data from the victim, the aggressor and the type of violence. Results Psychological abuse predominated and most cases occurred in the older adults own home. In the cities of Ribeirão Preto and João Pessoa, the older adults presented similar rates for both gender. Regarding the standardized rates, in João Pessoa, there was a rise of this type of abuse in the two first years, and later there was a certain stability. In the city of Teresina, there was an increase, also observed in the city of Ribeirão Preto in the three first years, followed by a decrease. Conclusion Older adults abuse is a cultural phenomenon difficult to be reported by them, since it occurs in the family context.

Developing a Tool for Accession to Assessment Exam Cytological of the Cervix

Objective: To develop a tool for assessing the adherence of women performing the cytological examination of the cervix. Method: exploratory, descriptive with quantitative approach, which followed four steps for the construction of the instrument. Held between May and July 2015, using a sample of 384 women attending health facilities in Joao Pessoa city family. Data were analyzed by applying factor analysis and then correspondence analysis. Results: Scores were calculated from the influential factors reported by these women to perform the cytological examination, and then these scores were associated with the frequency of the examination. As for frequency, 37% performed annually, 25.1% every two years and 20.5% every six months, associated between the low and medium scores. While the high score was associated with a lower frequency, corresponding to 1.3% of those who underwent the test every three years and 15.9% who said they have set periods for their realization. Conclusion: The difficulties for not performing the examination, worse adherence to these women that health care, requiring effective interventions of professionals to minimize these barriers.

Elderly’s Health Record In The Perception Of Health Professionals

Introduction : The population growth of older people is a reality that requires a different look at all care levels. The Elderly’s Health Record (EHR) was created to identify the vulnerabilities and peculiarities of this population and promote specific actions. Objective: To investigate the perspective of primary care professionals about the record. Method: an exploratory and qualitative study, carried out in Family Health Units at Sanitary District V in the city of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba/Brazil, in which participated 53 health professionals. A semi-structured interview with questions related to the use of the EHR by professionals and socio-demographic information was used. Data were analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis – Categorical Technique, which returned six categories: a) care tool; b) Instrument for autonomy for the elderly; c) Use of information on the health of the elderly; d) Object of work; e) health monitoring Guide elderly and f) Health Support. Results: Of the respondents, 86.8% use the EHR; 3.8% do not know and 9.4% have access, but do not use it. Professionals associate it in positive and negative concepts and opine in favor of its use by contemplating valuable information to be considered in health care for the elderly. Conclusion: Grasping the perspective of professionals related to the HER will contribute to support discussions and increase the number of accession to it as a health promotion tool in aging.