Funcionalidade e qualidade de vida nos idosos residentes na Região do Baixo Alentejo

Abstract

Objectives: WORK I: To determine the Functionality and Quality of Life Profile of asample of people aged 65 and over, residing in Baixo Alentejo Region; To validate theElderly Nursing Core Set instrument in psychometric terms, and the definition of newFunctionality concepts; To standardize functionality based to age; to identify nursing careneeds, according to different levels of functionality, based on a self-care model. WORKII: To validate the WHOQOL-BREF instrument in psychometric terms; To identifybiological and sociodemographic predictors of Quality of Life Domains; To identify themost important facets of the Quality of Life Profile; To identify the predictive Domains ofthe General Facet. WORK III: To quantify “Satisfaction” as a sensitive measure tonursing care.Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive studies; a random sample stratified by genderand age group, with 351 people aged 65 and over residing in Baixo Alentejo Region, whowere registered in the database of the Local Health Unit of Baixo Alentejo. A confidencelevel of 95% and an error margin of 4.5% were adopted. During the studies, severalstatistical analysis techniques were used: psychometric; descriptive and inferential ones.Mostly used were Confirmatory Factor Analysis as an application of Structural EquationModelling, Multiple Linear Regression Methods and Ordinal Regression Methods.Results: The standardization of functional profiles as a function of age reveal that up to 74years of age, the “NO problem” profile presents the highest probability. Beyond this age,"MILD PROBLEM" profile shows the highest probability and after 85 years and over, the"MODERATE Problem" profile presents as higher probability in relation to the former.“Education level” and “living together” were considered the biological andsociodemographic predictors of Quality of Life. The most important of all facets, were“Activities of daily living”, “Work capacity”, “Self-esteem” and “Opportunities to acquirenew information and skills”. Physical and Psychological domains were the most importantpredictors of the Quality of Life General Facet. The self-perception of being healthy seemsto be identified as a factor favorable to a better perception of QoL. The population sampleshowed a “Satisfaction” score of 62.1% in relation to the nursing care outcomes.Conclusion: It is proposed to assess the needs of nursing care based on the assessment ofFunctionality, Quality of Life and Satisfaction of people aged 65 and over.

Date of Award	4 Mar 2021
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Manuel José Lopes (Supervisor) & Henrique José Monteiro Oliveira (Supervisor)