Multidimensional assessment of institutionalized elderly: the reality of a brazilian institution

Background: The population aging in Brazil is characterized by the accumulation of progressive disabilities in their functional activities and daily life. To consider the elderlies in his/her multiple dimensions turns out to be a critical issue to improvetheir assistance to an institu-tionalized level, improving their health and quality of life. To perform a mini-overall evaluation of institutionalized elderly person to trace their profile in relation to the socio-demographic, functional capacity, nutritional status and cognition. Methods: Descriptive study, with a cross-sectional design and quan-titative approach performed in a long - stay institution for the elderly in Natal, RN. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Com-mittee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, under opinion number 164/2011.Results: 63.3% of the elderly were female, with ages varying from 61 to 103 years. 60.0% were single; 56.7% were literate. 66.7% had no children and 55% lived with their families before the institutio-nalization. As for the institutionalization time, 63.3% resided in the institution for four years. As what concerns the aspects of health, 73.3% of the elderly presented hearing difficulties, 90% make use of medicines predominantly to diabetes and hypertension. There is clear evidence that the institutionalization has been harmful to the elderly as with regards basic activities of daily living, nutritional status and cognitive aspects. Conclusion: The progressive disability in functional activities of daily life interferes directly in the quality of life, increasing dependency and minimizing the autonomy of these individuals. It is necessary to effec-tive implementation of public policies directed to the institutionalized elderly from the perspective of effective actions for improved attention and assistance

Utilização da caderneta de saúde do adolescente: percepção de profissionais

Objective: To analyze the perception of professionals about the use of the Caderneta de Saúde do Adolescente (CSA). Methods: A descriptive study with a qualitative approach was carried out in 2018 in the city of Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in which 17 professionals participated, including 12 members of the health team and five multi-professional residents in Basic Care of the Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Data were collected with a semi-structured interview containing data on the characterization of the professionals and a guiding question about the professionals' perception of the CSA. The application of the content analysis methodology resulted in the identification of two thematic categories: Conceptions of professionals about the Caderneta de Saúde do Adolescente; Difficulties of professionals regarding the use of the Caderneta de Saúde do Adolescente. Results: The main difficulties of using the CSA were the lack of professional qualification, the resistance of the parents/guardians who judged the immature children to receive the information about the subjects addressed and the absence of the adolescents in the ESF. Conclusion: The study provided reflections on professional practice, improvements in access to care and registration of health care for the adolescent public.Objetivo: Analizar la percepción de profesionales sobre la utilización de la Libreta de Salud del Adolescente (LSA). Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y de abordaje cualitativo realizado en 2018 en la ciudad de Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, en el cual participaron 17 profesionales (12 miembros del equipo de salud y cinco residentes multiprofesionales de la Atención Básica de una Estrategia de Salud de la Familia – ESF). Se recogieron los datos a través de entrevista semiestructurada con datos sobre la caracterización de los profesionales y una cuestión orientadora sobre la percepción de los profesionales acerca de la LSA. La aplicación de la metodología del análisis de contenido ha resultado en la identificación de dos categorías temáticas: Concepciones de los profesionales sobre la Libreta de Salud del Adolescente; Dificultades de los profesionales sobre la utilización de la Libreta de Salud del Adolescente. Resultados: Se observó como las principales dificultades del uso de la LSA la falta de capacitación profesional, la resistencia de los padres/responsables que juzgan sus hijos inmaturos para recibir las informaciones sobre los temas abordados y, aún, la ausencia de los adolescentes en la ESF. Conclusión: El estudio ha proporcionado reflexiones de la práctica profesional, las mejorías para el acceso a la atención y el registro de los cuidados de salud del público adolescente.Objetivo: Analisar a percepção de profissionais acerca da utilização da Caderneta de Saúde do Adolescente (CSA). Métodos: Estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, realizado em 2018, na cidade de Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, do qual participaram 17 profissionais, sendo 12 membros da equipe de saúde e cinco residentes multiprofissionais em Atenção Básica de uma Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Coletaram-se os dados com entrevista semiestruturada contendo dados sobre caracterização dos profissionais e uma questão norteadora sobre a percepção dos profissionais acerca da CSA. A aplicação da metodologia da análise de conteúdo resultou na identificação de duas categorias temáticas: Concepções dos profissionais acerca da Caderneta de Saúde do Adolescente; Dificuldades dos profissionais acerca da utilização da Caderneta de Saúde do Adolescente. Resultados: Observou-se como principais dificuldades de uso da CSA a falta de capacitação profissional, a resistência dos pais/responsáveis que julgam os filhos imaturos para receberem as informações sobre os temas abordados e, ainda, a ausência dos adolescentes na ESF. Conclusão: O estudo proporcionou reflexões sobre a prática profissional, melhorias no acesso ao atendimento e o registro dos cuidados à saúde do público adolescente

Effects of a dual-task training on dynamic and staticbalance control of pre-frail elderly: a pilot study

Introduction: This quasi-experimental study is justie#56256;e#57296;ied by the need to determine the effects of an interventionstrategy aimed at improving the static and dynamic balance in pre-frail elderly women. We hypothesizedthat dual-task training on a treadmill, compared to simple training on a treadmill,may promotestatistical difference in postural control of this group. Objectives: This study aimed to verify the measuresof postural control in a group of pre-frail elderly after a physical therapy intervention program based ondual-task treadmill training. Materials and methods: We selected six female pre-frail elderly subjectsliving in the community. The research was conducted twice a week for 45 minutes, for four weeks. Thesimple task training consisted only in the use of a treadmill and the dual-task training consisted on theuse of a treadmill associated with visual stimuli. Only the intervention group was submitted to the dualtasktraining. Results: Groups showed improvements in the variables of balance in different tasks, especiallyon static balance. Both groups showed the most notable changes in the variables related to gait. TheBBS scores and the baropodometric variables showed that the experimental group could keep all values similar or better even one month after completion of training, unlike the control group. Conclusion: Thedual-task performance had no additional value in relation to the improvement of balance in general, butwe observed that the effectiveness of visual stimulation seems to occur in the maintenance of short-termbalance variables

Effects of a dual-task training on dynamic and static balance control of pre-frail elderly: a pilot study

INTRODUCTION: This quasi-experimental study is justified by the need to determine the effects of an intervention strategy aimed at improving the static and dynamic balance in pre-frail elderly women. We hypothesized that dual-task training on a treadmill, compared to simple training on a treadmill,may promote statistical difference in postural control of this group. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to verify the measures of postural control in a group of pre-frail elderly after a physical therapy intervention program based on dual-task treadmill training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected six female pre-frail elderly subjects living in the community. The research was conducted twice a week for 45 minutes, for four weeks. The simple task training consisted only in the use of a treadmill and the dual-task training consisted on the use of a treadmill associated with visual stimuli. Only the intervention group was submitted to the dual-task training. RESULTS: Groups showed improvements in the variables of balance in different tasks, especially on static balance. Both groups showed the most notable changes in the variables related to gait. The BBS scores and the baropodometric variables showed that the experimental group could keep all values similar or better even one month after completion of training, unlike the control group. CONCLUSION: The dual-task performance had no additional value in relation to the improvement of balance in general, but we observed that the effectiveness of visual stimulation seems to occur in the maintenance of short-term balance variables

Lifecourse Adversity and Physical Performance across Countries among Men and Women Aged 65-74

<div><p>Background</p><p>This study examines the associations between lifecourse adversity and physical performance in old age in different societies of North and South America and Europe.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We used data from the baseline survey of the International Study of Mobility in Aging, conducted in: Kingston (Canada), Saint-Hyacinthe (Canada), Natal (Brazil), Manizales (Colombia) and Tirana (Albania). The study population was composed of community dwelling people between 65 and 74 years of age, recruiting 200 men and 200 women at each site. Physical Performance was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Economic and social adversity was estimated from childhood adverse events, low education, semi-skilled occupations during adulthood and living alone and insufficient income in old age.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 1995 people were assessed. Low physical performance was associated with childhood social and economic adversity, semi-skilled occupations, living alone and insufficient income. Physical performance was lower in participants living in Colombia, Brazil and Albania than in Canada counterparts, despite adjustment for lifecourse adversity, age and sex.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>We show evidence of the early origins of social and economic inequalities in physical performance during old age in distinct populations and for the independent and cumulative disadvantage of low socioeconomic status during adulthood and poverty and living alone in later life.</p></div

Lifecourse Adversity By Research Site.

a<p>indicators that loaded on social adversity were: abuse of alcohol/drugs, witnessing violence and experiencing physical abuse (factor analyses).</p>b<p>indicators that loaded on economic adversity were: low economic situation, hunger, parent unemployment (factor analyses).</p

Short Physical Performance Battery by Site and Lifecourse Adversity Indicators.

<p>Short Physical Performance Battery by Site and Lifecourse Adversity Indicators.</p

Associations between Childhood Adversity and Poor Physical Performance (SPPB<8).

a<p><b>Scores Social and Economic: 0(none); 1(one); 2(two or more) for site-specific analyses.</b></p