Effect of the Active Aging-in-Place-Rehabilitation Nursing Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: It is of great importance to promote functional capacity and positive lifestyles, since they contribute to preventing the progression of frailty among the older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active aging-in-place−rehabilitation nursing program (AAP-RNP) on the functional capacity and lifestyles of frail older adults. (2) Methods: This was a single-blinded, two-group, randomized, controlled trial of 30 frail older people enrolled at a Health-care unit in Portugal between 2021 and 2022. The duration of the program was 12 weeks, and the sessions took place at the participants' homes. We used as instruments the Tilburg Frailty Indicator; Fried frailty phenotype; Senior Fitness Test battery; Barthel Index; Lawton Index; handgrip strength measurement; Tinetti Index; Individual lifestyle profile; and Borg's perception of effort. (3) Results: Post-program, there was an improvement in multidimensional and physical frailty, functional capacity, balance, and perceived exertion (p < 0.05) in the experimental group. Among the older adults' lifestyles, we observed significant improvements in physical activity habits, relational behavior, and stress management. (4) Conclusions: Rehabilitation nurses have a relevant role, and the AAP-RNP seems to be effective in improving functional capacity and lifestyles in frail older adults.

Multidimensional Frailty and Lifestyles of Community-Dwelling Older Portuguese Adults.

(1) Background: Lifestyles are referred to as conditioning factors for the frailty of older adults. However, there are few studies that explore its association. The objective of the present study is to analyze the association between sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors of older adults people with multidimensional frailty. (2) Methods: Descriptive and correlational study carried out with older adults people registered in a Health Unit in Portugal. Data were collected through a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and application of the Individual Lifestyle Profile and Tilburg Frailty Index to assess the lifestyles and multidimensional frailty of older adults, respectively. This last instrument, being of a multidimensional nature, assesses not only physical, but also psychological and social frailty, with a cut-off point of 6. (3) Results: Of the 300 older adults who participated, most were female (60.3%) and had a mean age of 81.34 ± 6.75 years. Moreover, 60.3% of the sample were frail older adults. Gender, marital status, number of household members, number of chronic diseases, number of daily medications, self-perception of health status and lifestyle and use of a walking device were associated with multidimensional frailty (p ≤ 0.001). Healthy eating habits, physical activity, relational behaviour, preventive behaviour, and stress management were significantly associated with lower physical, psychological, and social frailty (p ≤ 0.001). (4) Conclusions: When community health workers are aware of multidimensional frailty predictors and their components, they can intervene early and, consequently, delay the onset and progression of frailty in older adults.

Fatores relacionados à fragilidade multidimensional em pessoas idosas / Factors related to multidimensional fragility in elderly people / Factors related to multidimensional fragility in elderly people

Objetivo: analisar os fatores sociodemográficos e de saúde relacionados com a fragilidade multidimensional em idosos que vivem no domicílio. Método: estudo descritivo, exploratório e transversal, que avaliou 300 idosos inscritos numa Unidade de Saúde da Região Norte de Portugal. Foram analisadas as condições sociodemográficas e de saúde das pessoas idosas, com aplicação do Índice de Fragilidade de Tilburg, Falls Efficacy Scale International - 7 itens, Índice de Barthel e Escala Lawton & Brody. Resultados: nos idosos do estudo, com idade média de 81,34±6,75 anos, a fragilidade foi identificada em 60,33%. Os fatores relacionados foram: género, estado civil, autopercepção de saúde, antecedentes patológicos, doença grave no último ano, polimedicação, quedas, medo de cair e maior nível de dependência. Conclusão: a fragilidade multidimensional dos idosos que vivem no domicílio é uma condição prevalente. Quando analisados precocemente os fatores preditores na atenção primária à saúde, é possível intervir de forma a retardar essa síndrome.

Objetivo: analizar los factores sociodemográficos y de salud relacionados con la fragilidad multidimensional en personas mayores que viven en el hogar. Método: estudio descriptivo, exploratorio y transversal, que evaluó a 300 ancianos matriculados en una Unidad de Salud de la Región Norte de Portugal. Se analizaron las condiciones sociodemográficas y de salud de los ancianos, con aplicación del Tilburg Frailty Index, Falls Efficacy Scale International - 7 items, Barthel Index y Lawton and Brody Scale. Resultados: en los ancianos del estudio, con una edad media de 81,34±6,75 años, se identificó fragilidad en el 60,33%. Los factores relacionados fueron: género, estado civil, salud autopercibida, antecedentes patológicos, enfermedad grave en el último año, polimedicación, caídas, miedo a caerse y mayor nivel de dependencia. Conclusión: la fragilidad multidimensional de los ancianos que viven en el hogar es una condición prevalente. Cuando los factores predictores en la atención primaria de salud se analizan temprano, es posible intervenir para retrasar este síndrome. Considerações finais: revelaram-se atendimentos influenciados por estereótipos de gênero e sexualidade, o que reduz o acesso a uma Atenção Primária à Saúde de qualidade, promotora do cuidado para com a saúde de mulheres lésbicas.

Objective: to analyze the sociodemographic and health factors related to multidimensional frailty in elderly people living at home. Method: descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional study, which evaluated 300 elderly enrolled in a Health Unit in the Northern Region of Portugal. The sociodemographic and health conditions of the old people were analyzed, with application of the Tilburg Frailty Index, Falls Efficacy Scale International - 7 items, Barthel Index and Lawton and Brody Scale. Results: in the elderly in the study, with a mean age of 81.34±6.75 years, frailty was identified in 60.33%. The related factors were: gender, marital status, self-perceived health, pathological history, severe disease in the last year, polymedication, falls, fear of falling and higher level of dependence. Conclusion: multidimensional frailty of the elderly living at home is a prevalent condition. When predictor factors in primary health care are analyzed early, it is possible to intervene in order to delay this syndrome.

The COVID-19 pandemic and nurses' attitudes toward death.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze nurses' attitudes toward death in a hospital context after the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal. METHOD: this quantitative, descriptive, exploratory study was conducted in a university hospital and addressed 995 nurses. Revised Death Attitude Profile (DAP-R) was used to collect data, which were analyzed using analytical and inferential statistics. RESULTS: the nurses most frequently agreed with the statements concerning the Neutral/Neutrality Acceptance and Fear. Age, marital status, profession, and unit of work influenced the nurses' attitudes toward death. During the critical pandemic period, the nurses providing care to patients with COVID-19 presented the following means: Fear (28.89/±8.521) and Avoidance Acceptance (18.35/±7.116), which were higher than the mean obtained in the Escape Acceptance dimension, with significant differences (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: the nurses held Fear and Avoidance attitudes, revealing the need to qualify and support Nursing workers to cope with the death of those they provide care and manage pandemics and catastrophes.

Atitudes dos enfermeiros frente à morte: mudanças com a pandemia por COVID-19 / Nurses' attitudes to death: changes with the COVID-19 pandemic

Objetivo: analisar as atitudes dos enfermeiros frente à morte, no contexto hospitalar, antes e após o primeiro período crítico da pandemia por COVID-19. Método: estudo quantitativo, transversal, comparativo. Coleta de dados realizada num hospital de Portugal, usando a Escala de Avaliação do Perfil de Atitudes acerca da Morte. Em 2018, participaram 900 enfermeiros e, em 2020, 995. Realizou-se análise estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: quanto ao perfil dos participantes dos dois grupos, identificaram-se diferenças significativas na idade (p=0,001) e categoria profissional (p=0,008). Nas atitudes frente à morte, o Evitamento obteve diferença significativa entre os enfermeiros antes e durante a pandemia (p=0,014), sendo superior neste último momento. Conclusão: o fato do Evitamento ser mais recorrente após a pandemia denota a importância do preparo das equipes para o enfrentamento da morte, de modo a garantir a qualidade dos cuidados na fase final da vida e minimizar o sofrimento psicológico dos enfermeiros.

Objective: to analyze nurses' attitudes to death in the hospital setting before and after the first critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: quantitative, cross-sectional, comparative study. Data collection was conducted in a hospital in Portugal, using the Death Attitude Profile Assessment Scale. In 2018, 900 nurses participated and, in 2020, 995. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed. Results: regarding the profile of participants in the two groups, significant differences in age (p=0.001) and professional category (p=0.008) were identified. In attitudes to death, Avoidance had a significant difference between nurses before and during the pandemic (p=0.014), and was higher in the latter moment. Conclusion: the fact that Avoidance is more recurrent after the pandemic shows the importance of preparing the teams to face death in order to ensure the quality of end-of-life care and minimize nurses' psychological suffering.

The COVID-19 pandemic and nurses' attitudes toward death / A pandemia por COVID-19 e as atitudes dos enfermeiros frente à morte / La pandemia por COVID-19 y las actitudes de los enfermeros frente a la muerte

Objective: to analyze nurses' attitudes toward death in a hospital context after the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal. Method: this quantitative, descriptive, exploratory study was conducted in a university hospital and addressed 995 nurses. Revised Death Attitude Profile (DAP-R) was used to collect data, which were analyzed using analytical and inferential statistics. Results: the nurses most frequently agreed with the statements concerning the Neutral/Neutrality Acceptance and Fear. Age, marital status, profession, and unit of work influenced the nurses' attitudes toward death. During the critical pandemic period, the nurses providing care to patients with COVID-19 presented the following means: Fear (28.89/±8.521) and Avoidance Acceptance (18.35/±7.116), which were higher than the mean obtained in the Escape Acceptance dimension, with significant differences (p=0.004). Conclusion: the nurses held Fear and Avoidance attitudes, revealing the need to qualify and support Nursing workers to cope with the death of those they provide care and manage pandemics and catastrophes.

Objective: analisar as atitudes dos enfermeiros frente à morte no contexto hospitalar após o período crítico da pandemia por COVID-19 em Portugal. Método: estudo quantitativo, descritivo, exploratório, realizado em um hospital universitário, com a participação de 995 enfermeiros. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se a Escala de Avaliação do Perfil de Atitudes acerca da Morte, sendo os dados analisados por meio de estatísticas analítica e inferencial. Resultados: a concordância dos enfermeiros foi mais elevada nas afirmativas relativas às atitudes de Aceitação Neutral/Neutralidade e Medo. A idade, o estado civil, a categoria profissional e a área de trabalho foram variáveis que influenciaram as atitudes face à morte. Durante o período crítico da pandemia, os enfermeiros em atendimento à COVID-19 apresentaram as médias das atitudes Medo (28,89/±8,521) e Evitamento (18,35/±7,116) superiores em relação à atitude Aceitação como Escape, que apresentou diferenças significativas (p=0,004). Conclusão: os enfermeiros adotaram posturas de Medo e Evitamento, o que revela a necessidade de investir-se na qualificação e no apoio dos profissionais de Enfermagem, para o enfrentamento da morte daqueles que cuidam e o manejo das pandemias e catástrofes.

Objetivo: analizar las actitudes de los enfermeros frente a la muerte en el contexto hospitalario después del período crítico de la pandemia por COVID-19 en Portugal. Método: estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y exploratorio, realizado en un hospital universitario, con la participación de 995 enfermeros. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó la Escala de Evaluación del Perfil de Actitudes acerca de la Muerte. Los datos fueron analizados por medio de la estadística analítica e inferencial. Resultados: la concordancia de los enfermeros fue más elevada en las afirmaciones relativas a las actitudes de Aceptación Neutral/Neutralidad y Miedo. La edad, el estado civil, la categoría profesional y el área de trabajo fueron variables que influenciaron las actitudes frente a la muerte. Durante el período crítico de la pandemia, los enfermeros que atendían el COVID-19 presentaron las medias de las actitudes: Miedo (28,89/ ± 8,521) y Evitación (18,35/ ± 7,116), superiores a las actitudes de Aceptación, como Escape, que presentó diferencias significativas (p=0,004). Conclusión: los enfermeros adoptaron posturas de Miedo y Evitación, lo que revela la necesidad de realizar inversiones en la calificación y en apoyo de los profesionales de Enfermería, a fin de hacer frente a la muerte de quienes cuidan y gestionan las pandemias y los desastres.

Atitudes dos enfermeiros frente à morte no contexto hospitalar: diferenciação por unidades de cuidados / Actitudes de los enfermeros frente a la muerte en el contexto hospitalario: diferenciación por unidades de cuidados / Nurses' attitudes towards death in the hospital context: differentiation by care units

RESUMO Objetivo identificar a ocorrência da morte nas unidades de cuidados, bem como analisar os registros e as atitudes dos enfermeiros frente à morte no contexto hospitalar. Método estudo quantitativo, descritivo, transversal, com participação de 900 enfermeiros de um hospital do Norte de Portugal. Com recurso à triangulação de fontes de dados, a coleta realizou-se de fevereiro a março de 2018 através de questionário e observação de registros efetuados pelos enfermeiros. Para análise dos dados, usou-se estatística descritiva e analítica. Resultados são as unidades de medicina que apresentam maior número de mortes, sendo no turno da noite que se registra um valor mais elevado de ocorrências. Com relação às atitudes dos enfermeiros frente à morte, à exceção do evitamento, todas as outras evidenciam tendência semelhante entre o grupo profissional, independentemente da sua área de atuação. Os registros de enfermagem apresentam maior incidência ao nível da função ao invés de focados no domínio da pessoa. Conclusão e implicações para a prática além da aquisição de conhecimentos através da participação em formações sobre a morte e o processo de morrer, o acompanhamento e apoio dos profissionais, poderão desempenhar um papel fundamental na preparação dos enfermeiros para cuidar das pessoas em fim de vida.

RESUMEN Objetivo identificar la ocurrencia de la muerte en unidades de cuidados y analizar registros y actitudes de los enfermeros frente a la muerte en el contexto hospitalario. Método estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, transversal, con participación de 900 enfermeros de un hospital en el Norte de Portugal. Utilizando la triangulación de fuentes de datos, la recopilación se realizó de febrero a marzo de 2018 a través de cuestionario y observación de registros de enfermeros. Para el análisis, se utilizaron estadísticas descriptivas y analíticas. Resultados las unidades médicas presentan mayor número de muertes, con mayor número de ocurrencias en el turno nocturno. Con respecto a las actitudes de los enfermeros frente a la muerte, con excepción de la evitación, todas las demás muestran una tendencia similar entre el grupo profesional, independientemente de su área de especialización. Los registros de enfermería tienen una mayor incidencia a nivel de función, en lugar de centrarse en el dominio de la persona. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica además de la obtención de conocimiento sobre la muerte y el morir, el seguimiento y el apoyo de profesionales puede desempeñar un papel fundamental en la preparación de los enfermeros para cuidar a los enfermos en final de vida.

ABSTRACT Objective to identify the occurrence of death in the care units, as well as to analyze the nurses' records and attitudes towards death in the hospital context. Method quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with the participation of 900 nurses from a hospital in northern Portugal. Using data source triangulation, the collection took place from February to March 2018 through a questionnaire and observation of records made by nurses. For data analysis, descriptive and analytical statistics were used. Results it is the medical units that present the highest number of deaths, with the highest number of occurrences taking place in the night shift. Regarding the nurses' attitudes towards death, with the exception of avoidance, all the others show a similar trend among the professional group, regardless of their area of activity. Nursing records have a higher incidence at the function level rather than focusing on the person's domain. Conclusion and implications for the practic e: in addition to the acquisition of knowledge, through participation in training on death and the dying process, the monitoring and support of professionals, may play a fundamental role in preparing nurses to care of people at the end of life.