Sarcopenia screening in elderly in primary health care: nurse knowledge and practices

ABSTRACT Objective: Describe the knowledge and practices of the Primary Health Care nurse on sarcopenia screening in the elderly. Methods: Qualitative study conducted with 24 Primary Health Care nurses. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, recorded and later transcribed. The speeches were grouped in thematic categories, later analyzed, supported by Paulo Freire’s reference. Results: The findings showed that the primary care nurses’ knowledge of sarcopenia screening in the elderly was incipient and fragile. This reality is reflected in a gap in practice, although some instruments already require the registration of characteristics indicative of sarcopenia, such as the evaluation of the calf circumference. Final Considerations: The need to train nurses to perform sarcopenia screening and to implement a promotional and preventive care plan, which will result in improving the quality of life of the elderly assisted in Primary Care, was highlighted.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Silva,Rutielle Ferreira, Figueiredo,Maria do Livramento Fortes, Darder,Juan José Tirado, Santos,Ana Maria Ribeiro dos, Tyrrell,Maria Antonieta Rubio
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem 2020
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-71672020001500189
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Summary:ABSTRACT Objective: Describe the knowledge and practices of the Primary Health Care nurse on sarcopenia screening in the elderly. Methods: Qualitative study conducted with 24 Primary Health Care nurses. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, recorded and later transcribed. The speeches were grouped in thematic categories, later analyzed, supported by Paulo Freire’s reference. Results: The findings showed that the primary care nurses’ knowledge of sarcopenia screening in the elderly was incipient and fragile. This reality is reflected in a gap in practice, although some instruments already require the registration of characteristics indicative of sarcopenia, such as the evaluation of the calf circumference. Final Considerations: The need to train nurses to perform sarcopenia screening and to implement a promotional and preventive care plan, which will result in improving the quality of life of the elderly assisted in Primary Care, was highlighted.