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Abstract(s)
Introdução: Os desenvolvimentos científico-técnicos e melhorias ao nível de saúde pública têm contribuído para o aumento da longevidade. Contudo, nem sempre o envelhecimento é acompanhado de qualidade de vida, sendo comum a baixa perceção da saúde. A institucionalização do idoso é uma resposta frequente à dependência, na ausência de soluções adequadas na comunidade e/ou família. A par desta realidade, as TIC têm vindo a instalar-se no dia-a-dia de todos, promovendo a comunicação e a construção de redes sociais, que não só minimizam as limitações impostas pela distância, como também podem desempenhar um papel essencial na integração/inclusão social das pessoas idosas. Este estudo pretende avaliar a perceção do estado de saúde e utilização das TIC por idosos institucionalizados, a possível relação entre estas dimensões, identificar quais as suas principais dificuldades e enumerar as características que esta população considera fundamentais num “equipamento ideal”.
Materiais e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional, descritivo e transversal, desenvolvido com uma amostra de conveniência, com 114 idosos, com idades compreendidas entre os 66 e 95 anos (M= 84.42; DP=6.585). Para esta investigação, foi elaborado um questionário original que, depois de validado, foi distribuído e aplicado em 5 Instituições/Lares de Terceira Idade ou Estruturas Residenciais para Idosos da Beira Interior e de Viseu.
Resultados: Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos idosos avalia a sua saúde como “aceitável” (44 idosos, 38.6%) e “boa” (38 idosos, 33.3%). As TIC mais utilizadas são o telemóvel (78 idosos, 68.40%) e o computador (20 idosos, 17.40%), sendo que o uso do smartphone e do tablet é muito residual. Observa-se, com significância estatística, que aqueles que utilizam mais frequentemente o telemóvel apresentam pior perceção do estado de saúde (x2= 19.412; p=0.025). Constata-se que as principais atividades realizadas com as TIC são conversar com a família e amigos, verificando-se, com significância estatística, que os que referem ter medo na sua utilização, têm mais de 80 anos (x2= 20.222; p=0.027). Depreende-se, ainda, que 70 idosos (61.4%) referem sentir dificuldades na utilização dos equipamentos, sobretudo pela letra pequena, apontando o controlo de voz como a caraterística preferencial para o seu “equipamento ideal”. Verifica-se, também, que 103 idosos consideram as TIC importantes e 62 têm interesse na sua utilização.
Conclusões: Este estudo alerta para a necessidade de desenvolver estratégias que permitam melhorar a perceção do estado de saúde dos idosos, bem como, fomentar a utilização das TIC no seu quotidiano, explorando os seus benefícios e asseverando a verdadeira inclusão social. Reconhece-se, também, a necessidade de realizar estudos, com amostras mais representativas.
Introduction: The technological and scientific developments and the improvements in public healthcare has contributed to the increase in life expectancy. However, this is not always accompanied by life quality, and there is relatively low health perception. One common answer to the dependence of elderly people is their institutionalization, due to the lack of adequate solutions in the community and/or family. At the same time, the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) are now a quotidian activity in everyone’s life, promoting communication and the development of social networks, which mitigate the distance-imposed limitations and allow the social integration/inclusion of the elderly. This study aims to evaluate the health perception and the utilization of ICT by the institutionalized elderly population, exploring potential relationships between both, identify the mains difficulties, and listing the characteristics that this populations consider necessary in an “Ideal Digital Equipment”. Methods and Materials: This is an observational study, descriptive and cross-sectional, using a convenience sample of 114 people, aged between 66 and 95 years old (A=84.42; SD=6.585). For this investigation, an original questionnaire was developed, that was later distributed and applied in 5 Institutions, devoted to the elderly in Beira Interior region and Viseu. Results: The results indicate that the majority of the respondents evaluate their health as “acceptable” (44 people, 38.6%) and “good” (38 people, 33.3%). The most commonly used ICTs are the mobile phone (78 people, 68.40%) and the computer (20 people, 17.40%). The use of smartphones and tablets is residual. It was possible to identify, with statistical significance, that the mobile phone ones is the device more used and that the respondents have lower perception of their health status (x2= 19.412; p=0.025). Furthermore, the main activities done with the ICTs are talking with family and friends. The findings show that, the ones who refer to be afraid of using ICTs are over 80 years old (x2= 20.222; p=0.027). Seventy people (61.4%) identify difficulties in using the equipment, especially due to the small letter size, pointing out the voice control feature as the preferred required characteristic for their “Ideal Digital Equipment”. Finally, it was possible to find that 103 people consider ICTs important and 62 have display interest on their use. Conclusion: This study warns for the need to develop strategies that allow the improvement of the health perception of elderly people as well as promoting the utilization of ICTs in their daily life, exploring its benefits to assure their true social inclusion. Further investigation are needed to support the current findings using a larger and more representative sample.
Introduction: The technological and scientific developments and the improvements in public healthcare has contributed to the increase in life expectancy. However, this is not always accompanied by life quality, and there is relatively low health perception. One common answer to the dependence of elderly people is their institutionalization, due to the lack of adequate solutions in the community and/or family. At the same time, the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) are now a quotidian activity in everyone’s life, promoting communication and the development of social networks, which mitigate the distance-imposed limitations and allow the social integration/inclusion of the elderly. This study aims to evaluate the health perception and the utilization of ICT by the institutionalized elderly population, exploring potential relationships between both, identify the mains difficulties, and listing the characteristics that this populations consider necessary in an “Ideal Digital Equipment”. Methods and Materials: This is an observational study, descriptive and cross-sectional, using a convenience sample of 114 people, aged between 66 and 95 years old (A=84.42; SD=6.585). For this investigation, an original questionnaire was developed, that was later distributed and applied in 5 Institutions, devoted to the elderly in Beira Interior region and Viseu. Results: The results indicate that the majority of the respondents evaluate their health as “acceptable” (44 people, 38.6%) and “good” (38 people, 33.3%). The most commonly used ICTs are the mobile phone (78 people, 68.40%) and the computer (20 people, 17.40%). The use of smartphones and tablets is residual. It was possible to identify, with statistical significance, that the mobile phone ones is the device more used and that the respondents have lower perception of their health status (x2= 19.412; p=0.025). Furthermore, the main activities done with the ICTs are talking with family and friends. The findings show that, the ones who refer to be afraid of using ICTs are over 80 years old (x2= 20.222; p=0.027). Seventy people (61.4%) identify difficulties in using the equipment, especially due to the small letter size, pointing out the voice control feature as the preferred required characteristic for their “Ideal Digital Equipment”. Finally, it was possible to find that 103 people consider ICTs important and 62 have display interest on their use. Conclusion: This study warns for the need to develop strategies that allow the improvement of the health perception of elderly people as well as promoting the utilization of ICTs in their daily life, exploring its benefits to assure their true social inclusion. Further investigation are needed to support the current findings using a larger and more representative sample.
Description
Keywords
Envelhecimento Inclusão Digital Internet Perceção da Saúde Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (Tic)