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  • Mental health, sexuality and old age
    Publication . Silva, Rosa Carla Gomes da; Candeias, Analisa Lia Silva; Santos, Silvana Sidney Costa; Sá, Luís Octávio de; Araújo, Beatriz Rodrigues
    During the aging process, there is the emergence of various human answers in elderly people, and these answers need of a differentiated intervention. Sexuality, sexual health and mental health in elderly people have a relationship that awake the interest of health professionals and nurses. The objectives of this paper are: to understand to what extent sexuality during old age can be a field of attention of nurses; to explore the relationship existing between the experiences of sexuality of elderly people and the mental health; to propose a set of guiding principles for the practice related to this theme. This is a qualitative study from the opinions of nurses who were experts in the context of clinical practice/teaching. Content analysis was used. The corpus of analysis gave rise to categories that allowed us to infer that sexuality in old age is taken as a field that deserves the attention of nurses, and its balanced experience proves to be essential for the promotion and maintenance of mental health. The proposed interventions are focused on demystification, sensitization and empowerment of elderly people towards the information and abilities for the management of behaviors. The experts have considered that, through the nursing action focused on sexuality, sexual health and mental health, the elderly person benefits from effective health gains.
  • Adherence to the therapeutic medication and biopsychosocial aspects of elderly integrated in the home-based long-term care
    Publication . Monterroso, Lígia Eduarda Pereira; Sá, Luís Octávio de; Joaquim, Natércia Maria Teixeira
    Objective: To evaluate the association between the biopsychosocial aspects and the adherence to the therapeutic medication of elderly integrated into the home-based long-term care teams. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study, with a sample of 198 eldery. Interviews took place between May 2012 and May 2013 in Portugal. For therapeutic characterization, the data were collected using two questionnaires and one interview. Data analysis made with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results and the Chi-Square test to evaluate the association between variables. Results: It was observed that 49% of the elderly do not adhere to the therapeutic medication and the level of adherence showed a statistically significant association with nutritional status (p = 0.002), instrumental autonomy (p = 0.030) and social isolation (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Due to the multiplicity of aspects involved in adherence, it is suggested that they be considered in the nursing interventions that promote therapeutic control measures.
  • Medication adherence in elderly people integrated in the long-term care domiciliary teams
    Publication . Monterroso, Lígia Eduarda Pereira; Joaquim, Natércia; Sá, Luís Octávio de
    Theoretical framework: An increased number of diseases and comorbidities leads to polymedication, which may interfere with Medication Adherence (MA) among the elderly. Objectives: To describe the socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the elderly supported by the Integrated Long-Term Care Teams; characterise the level of MA of the population under study; and identify the variables influencing non-adherence. Methodology: A descriptive/exploratory correlational study, using a quantitative method, was conducted in a sample of 55 elderly people. Results: Sample with 78±7.9 years old, mainly female (69.1%). Using the measurement scale of adherence to treatment, it was found that 72.7% of elderly people did not adhere to the medication treatment and that 83.6% take three or more medicines. Using the Katz index, it was found that 25.5% of seniors were highly dependent. Using the Mini-Mental State Examination, 47.3% patients revealed moderate dementia. Using the Geriatric Depression Scale, 45.5% revealed moderate depression. A statistically significant association was only found between MA and mental status. Individuals with moderate dementia had a lower level of adherence. Conclusion: The low level of MA is influenced by cognitive factors that should be considered while planning interventions to promote the MA among the elderly.