CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLYWITH CHRONIC DISEASE

• Main Authors: Betina Hörner Schlindwein Meirelles, Cecília Arruda, Eunice Simon, Fernanda Meneguello Arzuaga Vieira, Mari Dalva Vossgrau Cortezi, Maria Salete Lopes Natividade
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Paraná 2010-09-01
• Series: Cogitare Enfermagem
• Subjects: Quality of life; Chronic disease; Nursing; Elderly
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v15i3.18884

A qualitative descriptive study that aimed to describe the conditions associated with the quality of life of elderly with chronic illness of a fishing community of Santa Catarina. Participants were 22 people with more than sixty years, suffering from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, depression and arthritis/osteoarthritis. Both WHOQOL-BREF and a semistructured interview instrument were used for data collection, between April and August 2006. A thematic data analysis was conducted with the software Atlas-Ti, forming categories on areas highlighted by the WHO in its instruments to assess quality of life. Thus, the analysis resulted in two categories: Conceptualizing physical, social, psychological and environmental quality of life, and Factors influencing quality of life of elderly with chronic disease. The elderly and people with chronic diseases emphasize the physical domain, without forgetting the interference of other areas. There is a concern for autonomy, which must be stimulated by nursing and health professionals.