Desenvolvimento do índice de qualidade de vida do idoso - IQVI: base teórico-conceitual, metodologia escolhida e geração de itens relevantes

PURPOSE: To describe the initial steps of the construction process of a quality of life evaluation instrument for the elderlythe theoretic-conceptual framework for the construct, Quality of Life in Old Age; the construction methodology; and the generation of relevant items. METHODS: The first step was to conceptualize and define the construct, determining how much the elderly are able to perform of what they believe to be important in their lives and whether they are satisfied with what was possible to perform. The next step was to select and describe the construction methodology (the Clinical Impact Method) and the phase of generation of relevant items for the research object. The necessary procedures were delineated through a pilot study, which helped to establish all phases of the used methodology. The viability of the construction of the Quality of Life in Old Age evaluation instrument was demonstrated along with the needed adaptations. RESULTS: From 1032 answers by older people, 138 relevant items for the construct were identified by the items generation process. The pilot study demonstrated the suitability of the application of the methodology and established modifications to the preliminary items list, resulting in a new 139-item list. DISCUSSION: Now that the theoretical-conceptual framework of the construct as well as the construction methodology and the items generation are established, the next step will consist of administering the resulting list to a sample of elderly people for item reduction and distribution of items into dimensions.OBJETIVO: Descrever os passos iniciais do processo de construção de um instrumento de avaliação de qualidade de vida de idosos: a base teórico-conceitual do constructo Qualidade de Vida na Velhice, a metodologia escolhida para a construção e a geração dos itens relevantes. MÉTODOS: O primeiro passo foi conceituar e definir o constructo, evidenciando o quanto os idosos realizam do que consideram importante para suas vidas e se estão satisfeitos com o que foi possível concretizar. O segundo, escolher e descrever a metodologia de construção (Método do Impacto Clínico) e a fase de geração de itens relevantes ao objeto de estudo. Através de estudo piloto, foram delineados os procedimentos necessários, estabelecendo-se todas as fases da metodologia. Demonstrou-se a viabilidade de seu emprego na construção de um instrumento de avaliação de qualidade de vida de idosos, com as adaptações necessárias. RESULTADOS: A geração de itens selecionou, de 1032 respostas de idosos, 138 itens relevantes ao constructo. O estudo-piloto mostrou a viabilidade de aplicação da metodologia e estabeleceu modificações na lista preliminar de itens, resultando nova lista (139 itens). DISCUSSÃO: Estabelecida a base teórico-conceitual do constructo e a metodologia de construção, selecionados os itens e realizado o piloto, a etapa seguinte consistirá em submeter a lista a uma amostra de idosos, para redução dos itens e distribuição em dimensões

Development of elderly quality of life index - EQOLI: theoretical-conceptual framework, chosen methodology, and relevant items generation

PURPOSE: To describe the initial steps of the construction process of a quality of life evaluation instrument for the elderlythe theoretic-conceptual framework for the construct, Quality of Life in Old Age; the construction methodology; and the generation of relevant items. METHODS: The first step was to conceptualize and define the construct, determining how much the elderly are able to perform of what they believe to be important in their lives and whether they are satisfied with what was possible to perform. The next step was to select and describe the construction methodology (the Clinical Impact Method) and the phase of generation of relevant items for the research object. The necessary procedures were delineated through a pilot study, which helped to establish all phases of the used methodology. The viability of the construction of the Quality of Life in Old Age evaluation instrument was demonstrated along with the needed adaptations. RESULTS: From 1032 answers by older people, 138 relevant items for the construct were identified by the items generation process. The pilot study demonstrated the suitability of the application of the methodology and established modifications to the preliminary items list, resulting in a new 139-item list. DISCUSSION: Now that the theoretical-conceptual framework of the construct as well as the construction methodology and the items generation are established, the next step will consist of administering the resulting list to a sample of elderly people for item reduction and distribution of items into dimensions.OBJETIVO: Descrever os passos iniciais do processo de construção de um instrumento de avaliação de qualidade de vida de idosos: a base teórico-conceitual do constructo Qualidade de Vida na Velhice, a metodologia escolhida para a construção e a geração dos itens relevantes. MÉTODOS: O primeiro passo foi conceituar e definir o constructo, evidenciando o quanto os idosos realizam do que consideram importante para suas vidas e se estão satisfeitos com o que foi possível concretizar. O segundo, escolher e descrever a metodologia de construção (Método do Impacto Clínico) e a fase de geração de itens relevantes ao objeto de estudo. Através de estudo piloto, foram delineados os procedimentos necessários, estabelecendo-se todas as fases da metodologia. Demonstrou-se a viabilidade de seu emprego na construção de um instrumento de avaliação de qualidade de vida de idosos, com as adaptações necessárias. RESULTADOS: A geração de itens selecionou, de 1032 respostas de idosos, 138 itens relevantes ao constructo. O estudo-piloto mostrou a viabilidade de aplicação da metodologia e estabeleceu modificações na lista preliminar de itens, resultando nova lista (139 itens). DISCUSSÃO: Estabelecida a base teórico-conceitual do constructo e a metodologia de construção, selecionados os itens e realizado o piloto, a etapa seguinte consistirá em submeter a lista a uma amostra de idosos, para redução dos itens e distribuição em dimensões

Impact of a program to promote health and quality of life of elderly

Objective: To evaluate the effect on quality of life of elderly people enrolled in GAMIA – Multidisciplinary Care Group to Outpatient Elderly Subjects (Grupo de Assistência Multidisciplinar ao Idoso Ambulatorial) of the Geriatric Department, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo. Methods: Between 2000 and 2002, 83 elderly participants of GAMIA were assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-bref) at the beginning and the end of the program. Functionality was assessed by Katz and Lawton scales and sociodemographic data were obtained from medical charts. Results: Females predominated (79.5%) and overall mean age was 69.30 years. Data analysis showed a reduction in the physical domain of WHOQOL-bref (p = 0.014) and increased psychological health and environment domains (p = 0.029 and p = 0.007, respectively), detecting a trend of increase in social relationships and in general domains (p = 0.062 and p = 0.052, respectively). Conclusions: The clinical evaluation of the elderly detected previously unknown diseases and determination of the use of new drugs, which might have been the predominant factor for the deterioration of their perception in the physical domain. Improvement in psychological health and the environment can be related to psychological and social support that the elderly received from peers and professionals and the benefits of group activities, as well as the upward trend observed in social relationships and general domains. Participation in a program to promote healthy aging was effective in improving the quality of life of the elderly

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data