A saúde do idoso na graduação em fisioterapia no Brasil: um estudo transversal

Population aging has been occurring rapidly around the world, leading to the need for training for health professionals involved in caring for older adults, including the physical therapist. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of physical therapy courses in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Brazil regarding teaching directed to the health of older adults. This is an observational, cross-sectional study. A survey of information on physical therapy courses in Brazil was carried out through analysis of the curriculum, pedagogical projects and specific form. We analyzed 525 HEIs, of which 91.3% offer a discipline that addresses the health of older people, 98.4% of which is mandatory and 91.3% is the theoretical-practical type. In practice, 25.6% are in the internship field, with 81.9% carried out with older volunteers and 54.9% directed to all levels of care. When analyzing the distribution of the discipline by region, it was observed that it is more present in the Southeast (40.2%) (p=0.03). Most HEIs in Brazil address the health of older adults in the curriculum of the physical therapy course. However, the distribution of this discipline in the country is uneven, which can lead to divergences in therapeutic practice and represent losses in the quality of care for older people.O envelhecimento populacional vem ocorrendo rapidamente em todo o mundo, levando à necessidade de capacitação dos profissionais de saúde envolvidos no cuidado ao idoso, dentre eles o fisioterapeuta. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o perfil dos cursos de fisioterapia de instituições do ensino superior (IES) do Brasil quanto ao ensino direcionado à saúde do idoso. Trata-se de um estudo observacional e transversal. Foi realizado um levantamento de informações sobre os cursos de fisioterapia do Brasil através de análise da grade curricular, projetos pedagógicos e formulário específico. Foram analisadas 525 IES, das quais 91,3% oferecem uma disciplina que aborda a saúde do idoso, sendo 98,4% de caráter obrigatório e 91,3% do tipo teórico-prático. Nas práticas, 25,6% são em campo de estágio, sendo 81,9% realizadas com idosos voluntários e 54,9% direcionadas a todos os níveis de atenção. Ao analisar a distribuição da disciplina por região, observou-se que esta está mais presente na região Sudeste (40,2%) (p=0,03). As IES do Brasil abordam, em sua maioria, a saúde do idoso na grade curricular do curso de fisioterapia. No entanto, a distribuição dessa disciplina no país é desigual, podendo trazer divergências na conduta terapêutica e representar prejuízos na qualidade da assistência ao idoso.El envejecimiento de la población ha estado ocurriendo rápidamente en el mundo, lo que resulta necesaria la capacitación de los profesionales de la salud involucrados en el cuidado del anciano, incluido el fisioterapeuta. El presente estudio tuvo el objetivo de describir el perfil de los cursos de fisioterapia en las instituciones de educación superior (IES) en Brasil con respecto a la enseñanza sobre la salud del anciano. Es un estudio observacional y transversal. Se realizó una recopilación de informaciones sobre los cursos de fisioterapia en Brasil mediante el análisis del plan de estudios, los proyectos pedagógicos y un formulario específico. Se analizaron 525 IES, de las cuales el 91,3% ofertan una materia que aborda la salud del anciano, de esta, el 98,4% son obligatorias y el 91,3% del tipo teórico-prácticas. En las del tipo prácticas, el 25,6% están en el ámbito de pasantías, siendo que el 81,9% se realizan con ancianos voluntarios y el 54,9% están dirigidas a todos los niveles de atención. En el análisis de la distribución de la materia por región, se observó una mayor presencia en la región Sudeste (40,2%) (p=0,03). La mayoría de las IES en Brasil abordan la salud de los ancianos en el plan de estudios del curso de fisioterapia. No obstante, la distribución de la materia es desigual en el país, lo que puede resultar en divergencias en la conducta terapéutica e influir negativamente en la calidad de la asistencia a los ancianos

Exploring the relationships between anthropometric indices of adiposity and physical performance in middle-aged and older Brazilian women: a canonical correlation analysis

OBJECTIVES This study analyzed the influence of anthropometric indices of adiposity on the physical performance of middle-aged and older women. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 women from 50 years to 80 years old. Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics were analyzed, and physical performance was evaluated. The statistical analysis used measures of central tendency and dispersion for descriptive data, Pearson correlations to demonstrate the initial associations between the variables, and canonical correlation (CC) to evaluate the relationship between the set of anthropometric adiposity indices and performance-related variables. RESULTS The participants had a mean age of 58.57±8.21 years, a visceral adiposity index of 7.09±4.23, a body mass index of 29.20±4.94 kg/m2, and a conicity index of 1.33±0.07. The average handgrip strength was 25.06±4.89 kgf, gait speed was 1.07±0.23 m/s, and the mean Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score was 10.83±1.36. The first canonical function presented the highest shared variance, CC, and redundancy index (cumulative percentage of variance, 82.52; Wilks’ lambda, 0.66; CC, 0.532; p<0.001). From the analysis of this canonical function, the conicity index (-0.59) displayed inverse correlations with handgrip strength (0.84) and the SPPB (0.68), as well as a direct correlation with gait speed (-0.43). CONCLUSIONS In middle-aged and older women, there was an inverse relationship between the conicity index and muscle strength and power, while a direct relationship was found between the same index and gait speed

Dissatisfaction with body image and weight gain in middle-aged women: A cross sectional study.

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between weight gain and body image perception in in middle-aged women.MethodsCross-sectional study with 453 women. Body image was assessed using the Stunkard scale, in which women were classified as: satisfied or dissatisfied (general, thinness or obesity). The identification of possible factors associated with body image dissatisfaction was performed using binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe mean age was 55.7 (±9.6) years; 80.8% were classified as dissatisfied with body image. As for body composition, women satisfied with their body image had lower values of body fat and higher values of lean mass. In the logistic regression, for general dissatisfaction and obesity, the associated variables were BMI, education and physical activity. As for "dissatisfaction with thinness", only BMI was associated.ConclusionThus, the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction is high in women and part of associated factors are linked to lifestyle behaviors

Does body image perception relate to quality of life in middle-aged women?

<div><p>Objective</p><p>In Brazil, information about the influence of body image on the various life domains of women in menopausal transition is scarce. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze the relationship between body image and quality of life in middle-aged Brazilian women.</p><p>Methods</p><p>This was a cross-sectional study of 250 women between 40 and 65 years old, living in Parnamirim/RN, Brazil, who were evaluated in relation to body image and quality of life. For body image, women were classified as: dissatisfied due to low weight, satisfied (with their body weight) and dissatisfied due to being overweight. Quality of life was assessed through a questionnaire in which higher values indicate higher quality of life. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the relationship between body image and quality of life, adjusted for covariates that presented p<0.20 in the bivariate analysis.</p><p>Results</p><p>The average age was 52.1 (± 5.6) years, 82% of the women reported being dissatisfied due to being overweight, and 4.4% were dissatisfied due to having low weight. After multiple linear regression analyzes, body image remained associated with health (p<0.001), emotional (p = 0.016), and sexual (p = 0.048) domains of quality of life, as well as total score of the questionnaire (p<0.001).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Women who reported being dissatisfied with their body image due to having low weight or overweight had worse quality of life in comparison to those who were satisfied (with their body weight).</p></div

Characterization of the sample.

<p>Characterization of the sample.</p