Demographic aging is a phenomenon that is also felt in prisons. Thus, prisoners over 65 years old live with multiples pathologies that increases the complexity of their medication regimen. While in prison, they are enabled to assume their own therapeutic regimen. Thus, two questions arise that we intend to see answered: are these individuals prepared to assume self-care? Can nurses be a contribution to the reacquisition of this autonomy? This is a quantitative paradigm study with a quasi-experimental design, with the application of a questionnaire, at two different moments, in a Prison Establishment in the North of Portugal. The sample consisted of inmates, aged 65 years or older, polymedicated (with five or more prescribed medications) and with at least 6 months of sentence to be served; only prisoners with cognitive capacity to participate in the study were included. These were evaluated in view of the knowledge and ability demonstrated to assume self-care in the management of the therapeutic regimen in two distinct phases, existing among them a process of development of competencies developed by nurses, according to the deficits found. The results obtained were in line with the literature consulted. The study highlights the importance of detecting possible deficits related to the management of the therapeutic regimen in the older population, to create a training project before returning home. In this context, after the implementation of nursing interventions and strategies related to the drug regimen, significant improvements were identified. We conclude, therefore, that although more research and scientific development is needed in the area under study, a training program related to the management of the therapeutic regimen, before leaving in freedom that, in addition to contributing to the development of nursing prescriptions directed to a weakened and potentially neglected population, can contribute to the social reintegration of these individuals allowing, maintenance of their quality of life after returning home.
Date of Award | 17 May 2022 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Armando Almeida (Supervisor) |
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- Prison context
- Elderly population
- Therapeutic regimen management
- Nursing interventions
- Mestrado em Enfermagem Avançada
Formação da população idosa reclusa para a gestão do regime terapêutico, antes do regresso à liberdade
Simões, A. R. S. B. (Student). 17 May 2022
Student thesis: Master's Thesis