Apoio social, capacidade funcional e risco de quedas em pessoas idosas institucionalizadas no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the influence of social support regarding functional capacity and risk of falls of institutionalized people before and after COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: this was a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional study developed in four long-term care institution for the elderly, in the capital and metropolitan region of Paraíba, in two periods: from september to december of 2019 and from august to october of 2020. The sample was carried out with 60 older adults, selected on the basis for inclusion and exclusion criteria, interviewed through pre-made instrument and validated scales. The research obeyed ethical criterion in research involving human beings described in the Resolution 466/2012 of the National Health Council and Resolution 564/2017 of Federal Nursing Council. The data was entered and analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Science version 21.0 by means of descriptive statistics. Furthermore, inferential statistics was carried out by tests to evaluate correlation. For all analysis, it was used a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). Results: 29 older adults were interviewed “BEFORE” and 31 “DURING” the COVID-19 pandemic. In the group collected “BEFORE”, age has varied from 60 to 93 years with mean of 79,6 years, the majority were women 17 (54,8%), came from urban area 26(83,9%), single 16(51,6%), without children 20(64,5%), illiterate 15(48,4%), income up to 1 minimum wage 22(71,0%), catholic religion 27 (87,1%), received visits 25(80,6%), and were at the institution by personal choice 23(74,2%). As for the “DURING”, age has varied from 60 to 100 years with mean of 67,4 years, stood out female gender 17(54,8%), came from urban area 24(82,8%), single 15(51,7%), catholics 21(72,4%), income up to 1 minimum wage 18(62,1%) and with reports of receiving visits 23(79,3%). There was prevalence of not having children 12(41,4%), schooling at least 4 years of study 11(37,9%) and they were in the institution for another reason, that was not personal choice or abandonment of the family 18(62,1%). In the clinical conditions, hypertension was predominant 31(51,6%), followed by diabetes 17(28,3%). As for the functional capacity, 45(75,0%) older adults were independents for BADL. Risk of falls were high 47(78,3%). Social support “BEFORE” pandemic got high score in all domains. However, affective and social interaction domains were low “DURING” pandemic. Moreover, the findings “BEFORE” pandemic had negative correlation among functional capacity, affective, and social interaction domains. Risk of falls was been correlated to time of institutionalization and information domain. During pandemic, functional capacity was correlated to older adults age and institutionalization time. Affective domain was correlated to institutionalization time. Conclusion: Social support has influence in functional capacity and risk of falls. It is expected that results can collaborate to improve institutionalized elderly care and also favor the awareness of health professionals, especially from nursing, about the studied situation.