Fear of COVID-19 among professional caregivers of the elderly in Central Alentejo, Portugal.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected many institutionalised elderly people. In Portugal, the level of pandemic fear among professional caregivers of the elderly is unknown, as are its predictive factors. This study aimed to investigate predictors of fear of COVID-19 among workers caring for institutionalised elderly people in nursing homes. This is a cross-sectional study using multiple linear regression applied to a population of 652 caregivers located in 14 municipalities in Central Alentejo, Portugal, at March 2021. The criterion variable was the fear of COVID-19. Standardised regression coefficients showed that the higher the level of education, the lower the level of fear (ß = - 0.158; t = - 4.134; p < .001). Other predictors of the level of fear were gender, with women having higher levels (ß = 0.123; t = t = 3.203; p < 0.001), higher scores on COVID-19-like suspicious symptoms (ß = 0.123; t = 3.219; p < 0.001) and having received a flu vaccine (ß = 0.086; t = 2.252; p = 0.025). The model explains 6.7% of the variation in fear of COVID-19 (R2Adj = 0.067). Health literacy can minimise the impact on the physical and mental health of these workers. In Central Alentejo, caregivers of the elderly play a fundamental role in social balance. Further studies are needed to better understand the factors that can improve their personal and professional well-being.

The importance of a training program on active aging from the perspective of elderly individuals.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the results of a training program focused on the well-being of elderly individuals from the perspective of users, through the opinion on the program impact on their active aging. METHODS: a qualitative research, carried out from an intentional sample, consisting of 10 elderly women. Interview conducted by focus group, recorded and transcribed, which constituted the corpus of analysis. Lexical analysis of textual data was performed using the Alceste software. RESULTS: from the analysis, three classes emerged: 1) Health-Activity; 2) Activity-Expectation; 3) Mind-Body Unit. The Activity-Expectation class stands out. CONCLUSIONS: the research revealed that elderly individuals consider it important to have expectation, which results in satisfaction and involvement with life as well as the ability to remain active in a perspective of mind-body unit. Future projects should focus on enhancing mental and physical functions to promote active and healthy aging.

The importance of a training program on active aging from the perspective of elderly individuals / Importância de um programa formativo sobre envelhecimento ativo na perspectiva das pessoas idosas

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the results of a training program focused on the well-being of elderly individuals from the perspective of users, through the opinion on the program impact on their active aging. Methods: a qualitative research, carried out from an intentional sample, consisting of 10 elderly women. Interview conducted by focus group, recorded and transcribed, which constituted the corpus of analysis. Lexical analysis of textual data was performed using the Alceste software. Results: from the analysis, three classes emerged: 1) Health-Activity; 2) Activity-Expectation; 3) Mind-Body Unit. The Activity-Expectation class stands out. Conclusions: the research revealed that elderly individuals consider it important to have expectation, which results in satisfaction and involvement with life as well as the ability to remain active in a perspective of mind-body unit. Future projects should focus on enhancing mental and physical functions to promote active and healthy aging.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar os resultados de um programa formativo focado no bem-estar do idoso na perspectiva dos utilizadores, por meio da opinião sobre o impacto do programa no seu envelhecimento ativo. Métodos: pesquisa qualitativa, realizada a partir de uma amostra intencional, constituída por 10 mulheres idosas. Entrevista realizada por focus group, gravada e transcrita, a qual constituiu o corpus da análise. A análise lexical dos dados textuais foi realizada por meio do software Alceste. Resultados: da análise, emergiram três classes: 1) Saúde-Atividade; 2) Atividade-Expectativa; 3) Unidade Mente-Corpo. Destaca-se a classe Atividade-Expectativa. Conclusões: a pesquisa revelou que os idosos consideram ser importante ter expectativa, que se concretiza na satisfação e envolvimento com a vida, bem como a capacidade de se manterem ativos em uma perspectiva da unidade mente-corpo. Os projetos futuros devem focar na estimulação das funções mentais e físicas, para promoverem envelhecimento ativo e saudável.

Lifestyles: social representations construed by patients with myocardial infarction and family members. / Estilos de vida: representações sociais construídas por doentes com infarto do miocárdio e familiares.

OBJECTIVE: The social representations of lifestyles construed by family members and patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction. METHOD: Exploratory qualitative study supported by the theory of social representations, with 70 patients and 70 family members of two Portuguese hospitals, one on the coast and one inland from January to June 2015. Structural analysis was performed using two questionnaires relying on the technique called Free Association of Words. RESULTS: The evocations of patients and family members indicated weak convergence between the two groups in representing Lifestyle, yet showed the existence of knowledge that enhances a healthy lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: The categories Eat and Change were a consensus among the groups. For patients and family members, it was consensual that a poor diet is a harmful lifestyle for health. It was also clear that change is fundamental. Such an assumption makes room for the intervention of health professionals.

Continuity of care from the perspective of users. / A continuidade de cuidados de saúde na perspetiva dos utentes.

Continuity of care, in addition to ensuring improvement of the quality of care, contributes to the reduction of health costs. The objective of this study was to analyse the continuity of care in health units in the municipality of Évora (south of Portugal), from the perspective of users. This is across-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach, with a sample consisting of 342 users of health units. The instrument was a questionnaire adapted from English and Spanish studies. The results show that elements of continuity were identified in the different dimensions of the continuity of care - relational, management, information and some items of flexible continuity. Longitudinal continuity has the lowest values in nursing care. In conclusion, what stands out positively, and in its different dimensions, is relational continuity, in which most users recommend their family doctor and nurse to family and friends, and flexible continuity, which translates into reduced waiting times to be attended by a doctor or nurse and access to care. What stands out negatively is the weak involvement of the user in care by health professionals, in the dimensions of relational continuity.

A continuidade de cuidados de saúde na perspetiva dos utentes / Continuity of care from the perspective of users

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a continuidade de cuidados nas Unidades de Saúde no município de Évora (Portugal), na perspetiva dos utentes. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, exploratório e descritivo de abordagem quantitativa, com uma amostra constituída por 342 utentes das unidades de saúde. O instrumento utilizado foi um questionário adaptado de estudos ingleses e espanhóis. Os resultados revelam que foram identificados elementos de continuidade ao nível das diferentes dimensões da continuidade de cuidados - relacional, de gestão, informação e de alguns itens da continuidade flexível. A continuidade longitudinal apresenta os valores mais baixos no atendimento de enfermagem. Como conclusão, destaca-se positivamente, e nas suas diferentes dimensões, a continuidade relacional em que a maioria dos utentes recomendam o seu médico de família e enfermeira a familiares e amigos e a continuidade flexível, que se traduz por reduzidos tempos de espera no atendimento por um médico ou enfermeiro e acessibilidade aos cuidados. Negativamente sobressai o fraco envolvimento do utente nos cuidados, pelos profissionais de saúde, numa das dimensões da continuidade relacional.

Abstract Continuity of care, in addition to ensuring improvement of the quality of care, contributes to the reduction of health costs. The objective of this study was to analyse the continuity of care in health units in the municipality of Évora (south of Portugal), from the perspective of users. This is across-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach, with a sample consisting of 342 users of health units. The instrument was a questionnaire adapted from English and Spanish studies. The results show that elements of continuity were identified in the different dimensions of the continuity of care - relational, management, information and some items of flexible continuity. Longitudinal continuity has the lowest values in nursing care. In conclusion, what stands out positively, and in its different dimensions, is relational continuity, in which most users recommend their family doctor and nurse to family and friends, and flexible continuity, which translates into reduced waiting times to be attended by a doctor or nurse and access to care. What stands out negatively is the weak involvement of the user in care by health professionals, in the dimensions of relational continuity.

Estilos de vida: representações sociais construídas por doentes com infarto do miocárdio e familiares / Estilos de vida: representaciones sociales construidas por los pacientes con infarto de miocardio y familia / Lifestyles: social representations construed by patients with myocardial infarction and family members

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar as representações sociais de estilos de vida construídas por familiares e doentes com diagnóstico de infarto do miocárdio. Método Estudo exploratório e qualitativo sustentado na teoria das representações sociais, com 70 doentes e 70 familiares, de dois hospitais portugueses, um no litoral outro no interior do país, de janeiro a junho de 2015. Foi realizada análise estrutural, com o uso de dois questionários, recorrendo à técnica de Associação Livre de Palavras. Resultados As evocações dos doentes e dos familiares indicaram fraca convergência entre os dois grupos na representação de Estilo de Vida, contudo mostraram a existência de conhecimentos potenciadores de um estilo de vida saudável. Conclusões As categorias Comer e Mudança assumiram consensualidade nos grupos. Para doentes e familiares foi consensual que uma alimentação pouco cuidada representa um estilo de vida prejudicial para a saúde. Ficou também claro que a mudança é fundamental. Tal assunção abre espaço à intervenção dos profissionais de saúde.

RESUMEN Objetivo analizar las representaciones sociales de los estilos de vida construidos por la familia y los pacientes con diagnóstico de infarto agudo de miocardio. Método Estudio cualitativo exploratorio, apoyado en teoría de las representaciones sociales, con 70 pacientes y 70 familiares, de hospitales portugueses, uno en la costa y el otro en el interior del país, de enero a junio el año 2015. Se llevó a cabo el análisis estructural, para eso se utilizaron dos cuestionarios y la técnica de asociación libre de palabras. Resultados Evocaciones de los pacientes y familiares indican débil convergencia entre los dos grupos en representación de Estilos de vida, sin embargo, muestran la existencia de mejorar el conocimiento de un estilo de vida saludable. Conclusión Las categorías de la Alimentación y del Cambio tienen una clara consensualidad en ambos grupos. Para los pacientes y sus familiares existe un consenso de que una dieta poco cuidadosa es un estilo de vida perjudicial para la salud. También está claro que el cambio es fundamental. Esta premisa deja espacio para la intervención de profesionales de la salud.

ABSTRACT Objective The social representations of lifestyles construed by family members and patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Method Exploratory qualitative study supported by the theory of social representations, with 70 patients and 70 family members of two Portuguese hospitals, one on the coast and one inland from January to June 2015. Structural analysis was performed using two questionnaires relying on the technique called Free Association of Words. Results The evocations of patients and family members indicated weak convergence between the two groups in representing Lifestyle, yet showed the existence of knowledge that enhances a healthy lifestyle. Conclusions The categories Eat and Change were a consensus among the groups. For patients and family members, it was consensual that a poor diet is a harmful lifestyle for health. It was also clear that change is fundamental. Such an assumption makes room for the intervention of health professionals.

Representações sociais dos estudantes de enfermagem sobre assistência hospitalar e atenção primária / Representaciones sociales de los estudiantes de enfermería sobre asistencia hospitalaria y atención primaria / Social representations of nursing students about hospital assistance and primary health care

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar como se estruturam as representações sociais dos cuidados hospitalares e comunitários em dois grupos de estudantes de enfermagem - 1º e 4º anos. Métodos: pesquisa qualitativa orientada pela Teoria das Representações Sociais. Utilizou-se um questionário com Associação Livre de Palavras. Os dados foram analisados no Software IRaMuTeQ 0.6 alpha 3. Resultados: aplicou-se o método da Classificação Hierárquica Descendente e obtiveram-se 4 classes. A classe 4 tem a maior representação social (30,41%) do corpus. Os dois eixos organizadores são enfermeiro e doença/doente no núcleo central. Na periferia destaca-se o cuidado e ajuda ligados ao enfermeiro e o tratamento e a prevenção associados à doença. Conclusões: as representações sociais centram-se na doença/doente e no papel do enfermeiro no tratamento, prevenção e cuidado. A promoção da saúde e os determinantes sociais da saúde estão ausentes das representações sociais dos estudantes.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar cómo se estructuran las representaciones sociales de los cuidados hospitalarios y comunitarios en dos grupos de estudiantes de enfermería - 1º y 4º años. Método: pesquisa cualitativa orientada por la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Se utilizó un cuestionario con Asociación Libre de Palabras. Se analizaron los datos en el software IRaMuTeQ 0.6 alpha 3. Resultados: se aplicó el método de la Clasificación Jerárquica Descendiente, y fueron obtenidas 4 clases. La clase 4 tiene la mayor representación social (30,41%) del corpus. Los dos ejes organizadores son enfermero y enfermedad/enfermo en el núcleo central. En la periferia se destaca el cuidado y la ayuda ligados al enfermero y el tratamiento y la prevención asociados a la enfermedad. Conclusión: las representaciones sociales se centran en la enfermedad/enfermo y en el papel del enfermero en el tratamiento, prevención y cuidado. La promoción de salud y los determinantes sociales de la salud están ausentes de las representaciones sociales de los estudiantes.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze how social representations of hospital and community care are structured in two groups of nursing students - 1st and 4th years. Method: Qualitative research oriented by the Theory of Social Representations. We used a questionnaire with Free Association of Words. Data were analyzed in the Software IRaMuTeQ 0.6 alpha 3. Results: We applied the method of Descending Hierarchical Classification and obtained four classes. Class 4 has the largest social representation (30.41%) within the corpus. The two organizational axes are nurse and disease/patient in the central core. On the periphery are the care and help related to the nurse and the treatment and prevention associated with the disease. Conclusion: Social representations focus on disease/patient and on the role of nurses in the treatment, prevention, and care. Health promotion and the social determinants of health are absent from the social representations of students.

Manejo terapéutico de los usuarios con terapia anticoagulante oral / Gestão terapêutica dos utentes com terapia anticoagulante oral / Therapeutic management of users with oral anticoagulant therapy

Objetivo: Caracterizar a los usuarios con terapia anticoagulante oral; conocer el régimen de tratamiento y estimar los costes de evaluación de la International Normalized Ratio (INR). Metodologia: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, exploratorio, con 83 usuarios con terapia anticoagulante oral de un Centro de Salud de Alentejo. Los datos fueron recolectados con la aplicación de cuestionario construido para este fin. Resultados: Se concluyó que 50,6% informaron no saber qué es la coagulación; 49,4% lo que son anticoagulantes orales; 63,9% las complicaciones de la terapia anticoagulante oral. 27,7% conoce los alimentos que interfieren con esta terapia y 51,8% declara saber qué hacer en caso de lesión, cirugía o de la extracción de un diente. El costo de la evaluación de RNI (Razón Normalizada Internacional) en laboratorio es mayor que en los centros de salud. Conclusiones: Existen lagunas en el conocimiento sobre el proceso de coagulación, la interferencia de alimentación y el régimen. La descentralización de la consulta de enfermería puede reducir los costos, mejorar la accesibilidad y la gestión del régimen terapéutico (AU)

Objetivo: Caraterizar os utentes com terapia anticoagulante oral; conhecer a gestão do regime terapêutico e estimar custos da avaliação de Razão Normatizada Internacional (RNI). Metodologia: Estudo descritivo, exploratório, transversal, realizado com 83 utentes com terapia anticoagulante oral de um Centro de Saúde do Alentejo (Portugal). A coleta dos dados ocorreu com aplicação de questionário construído para o efeito. Resultados: Concluiu-se que 50,6% referiram não saber o que é coagulação; 49,4% o que são anticoagulantes orais; 63,9% quais as complicações da terapêutica anticoagulante oral. Apenas 27,7% conhecem os alimentos que interferem com esta terapêutica e 51,8% mencionam saber o que fazer em caso de ferida, extração de dente ou cirurgia. O custo da avaliação de RNI em laboratório é mais elevado que nos Centros de Saúde. Conclusões: Identificaram-se lacunas nos conhecimentos sobre coagulação, interferências alimentares e regime terapêutico. A descentralização da Consulta de Enfermagem permite reduzir custos, melhorar a acessibilidade e gestão do regime terapéutico (AU)

Objective: Characterize the users of oral anticoagulant therapy; to find out about treatment regimen management and to estimate International Normalized Ratio (INR) assessment costs. Methodology: Descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional study with 83 users of oral anticoagulant therapy from a primary health care centre in Alentejo (Portugal). Data collection occurred with the application of a questionnaire designed for the purpose. Results: It was found that 50.6% reported that they did not know what clotting is; 49.4%, what oral anticoagulants are; 63.9%, what the complications are of oral anticoagulant therapy. Only 27.7% know the foods that interfere with this therapy, and 51.8% mentioned that they knew what to do in the event of injury, tooth extraction or surgery. INR assessment costs in the laboratory are higher than in the primary health care centre. Conclusions: Gaps in knowledge regarding coagulation, food interference and treatment regimen were identified. The decentralisation of nursing appointments enables costs to be reduced, improves accessibility and management of the treatment régimen (AU)