O idoso e sua espiritualidade: impacto sobre diferentes aspectos do envelhecimento

Distress and Spiritual Well-Being in Brazilian Patients Initiating Chemotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Cross-Sectional Study

Social distancing and the priority given to COVID-19 patients in health services, which caused postponement of appointments and cancer treatment, may have triggered unprecedented levels of distress in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of distress and the levels of spiritual well-being of people initiating chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying the factors associated with distress, and determining if there is a relationship between distress and spiritual well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 91 Brazilians. Data were collected by applying the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) and the Distress Thermometer and Problem List for Patients. The prevalence of distress was 59.5%, and the average score of spiritual well-being was 106.54 (±9.06). Emotional issues were the most reported by patients with distress. The Poisson regression showed that male sex (PR = 0.588; 95% CI 0.392–0.881), age (PR = 0.985; 95% CI 0.973–0.996), and spiritual well-being score were predictors of distress (PR = 0.971; 95% CI 0.946–0.996). These findings indicate that distress relief involves implementation of public health programs capable of integrating spiritual interventions into cancer care.

Factors associated with successful aging in Brazilian community-dwelling older adults: When physical health is not enough

OBJECTIVES

To determine the main factors (physical, psychological, social and spiritual) associated with successful aging in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of older adults was conducted evaluating successful aging (Successful Aging Scale-SAS) and its associated factors (sociodemographics, resilience, religiosity/spirituality, meaning in life, quality of life, social support, self-reported diseases, mental health, medications used, among others) using regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 534 older adults were assessed. Linear regression models showed an association of higher SAS score with greater resilience (Beta = 0.371, p < 0.001), spiritual well-being - meaning (Beta = 0.174, p < 0.001) and quality of life - physical (Beta=0.203, p < 0.001), fewer diseases (Beta=-0.128, p < 0.001), greater meaning in life (Beta=0.116, p = 0.001), less loneliness (Beta=-0.133, p = 0.001), lower tobacco use (Beta=0.080, p = 0.013), greater quality of life - environment (Beta=-0.092, p = 0.013) and more frequent religious attendance (Beta=0.068, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

The study results suggested that physical factors, although relevant, were not the main factors associated with successful aging.

Religiosidade e Funcionamento Mental em Idosos Portugueses: Uma Perspetiva Sociopsicológica

Resumo O artigo tem como objetivo analisar a relação entre a religiosidade e o funcionamento mental em idosos portugueses. Os instrumentos metodológicos utilizados foram: um questionário sociodemográfico, a Escala de Orientação Religiosa-R e o Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). Os resultados da análise mostraram que, embora sem uma relação estatisticamente relevante entre religiosidade e funcionamento mental de uma forma geral, existem, no entanto, diferenças significativas entre a frequência de participação em celebrações religiosas e melhores níveis de funcionamento mental.

Association between religiosity and functional capacity in older adults: a systematic review

Abstract Objective: To verify the association between religiosity and functional capacity in the elderly. Method: a systematic review of literature in the SciELO, Lilacs, MEDLINE/PubMed and the portal of CAPES Journals databases was performed. The descriptors were selected through the list of Descriptors in Health Sciences (Decs) and Medical Subject Headings (Mesh). Original articles in Portuguese and English, published between 2007 and 2017, with a sample composed of elderly persons aged 60 years or more were included. Systematic or integrative reviews, case studies, scale validation studies, dissertations and theses and studies on religious social support were excluded, as well as articles that included elderly persons and adults in the sample. Result: 280 articles were identified, of which six were included in this review. Religiosity was associated with improved functional capacity and coping with disability and the delay of functional decline in the elderly. Different aspects of religiosity were associated with functional capacity, such as participation in religious activities, religious leadership role performance and religious beliefs and traditions. In three articles the positive association between religiosity and functional capacity was linked only to public religious activities and not to intrinsic religious practices. Conclusion: religiosity is significantly and positively associated with the functional capacity of the elderly. The association between intrinsic religiosity and functional capacity is still unclear.

Health status of elderly persons of Antioquia, Colombia

Objective The health needs of older adults constitute challenges for health monitoring and care, resulting in increased costs. The present study therefore sought to analyze the health status of the elderly to enable targeting and intervention, in the pursuit of healthy aging for all. Method A quantitative observational cross-sectional study using a primary source was performed in 2012. A total of 4,248 adults aged over 60 years of age residing in the nine regions of Antioquia, Colombia, and the capital city were surveyed. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed of statistical and epidemiological measures, based on confidence intervals and statistical tests under 5%. Results One in four individuals had a risk of depression, one in three were at risk of anxiety, eight out of ten had cognitive impairment, mainly mild, and the same proportion were at nutritional risk. The elderly persons suffered from all types of abuse, notably psychological. Conclusions Thehealth status ofelderly personsis more affectedbymental than physical healthrisks, indicatingthatpublic policy anda better distribution ofresourcesshould be aimed at seeking animprovement in qualityof life anddignified aging, differentiated byregion.

Religiosidade e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde dos idosos em um município na Bahia, Brasil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as dimensões da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em idosos da comunidade e sua relação com a religiosidade organizacional (RO), religiosidade não organizacional (RNO) e religiosidade intrínseca (RI). MÉTODO: Estudo transversal de abordagem quantitativa, com amostra aleatória composta por 82 idosos cadastrados na Estratégia de Saúde da Família de Capoeiruçu, bairro do município de Cachoeira-BA, Brasil. RESULTADOS: O sexo feminino predominou, com 61,0%. A idade média foi (71±9,39). Nas oito dimensões da qualidade de vida, o escore variou entre 64,3 a 77,3. A RO foi 74,4% e a RNO foi de 89,1%. Para as questões sobre RI: sentir a presença de Deus, agir de acordo com suas crenças e se eles se esforçam para viver a religião em todos os aspectos da vida, encontraram-se percentuais de 95%, 90,2% e 84,2% respectivamente. Usando o teste do qui-quadrado, verificou-se que as "limitações por aspectos emocionais" foi a dimensão que recebeu maior influência de RO (X2= 11,539, p= 0,001, V de Cramer= 0,372), RNO (X2= 7,949, p= 0,005, V de Cramer= 0,309) e RI (X2= 5,126, p= 0,05, V de Cramer= 0,249). Constatou-se também influência positiva sobre as dimensões "limitações por aspectos físicos, dor, estado geral de saúde, saúde mental e social". Nenhuma associação foi encontrada entre religiosidade e as dimensões "capacidade funcional" e "vitalidade". CONCLUSÕES: Infere-se que há associação positiva entre religiosidade nas três dimensões (RO, RNO e RI) e a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde dos idosos.

Limitações para caminhar em idosos com claudicação intermitente: a religiosidade como mecanismo de superação da dor

OBJETIVO: Analisar a percepção sobre a dor durante a caminhada em idosos com claudicação intermitente e como eles utilizam a religiosidade para superar o sintoma doloroso. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por dez integrantes de um programa de treinamento físico que apresentavam sintomas de claudicação intermitente. Foi traçado um perfil da população, contendo dados sociodemográficos e religiosos; e realizou-se entrevista com base em roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. Utilizou-se o procedimento da estatística descritiva para os dados numéricos e as falas dos sujeitos foram submetidas ao software Analysis of Qualitative Data (AQUAD) e posteriormente analisadas por meio da análise de conteúdo temática. RESULTADOS: Os resultados evidenciaram que os sujeitos apresentaram sentimentos negativos frente à dor ao caminhar, tais como aborrecimento, tristeza e medo. Ao mesmo tempo, eles acreditavam que a religião e a crença da existência de um Ser Superior os ajudavam a superar a dor nas pernas. CONCLUSÃO: A fé e a religiosidade parecem funcionar como ferramentas de superação da dor durante a caminhada dos idosos com claudicação intermitente.