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Journal ArticleDOI

Qualidade de vida e saúde: um debate necessário

01 Jan 2000-Ciencia & Saude Coletiva (ABRASCO - Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva)-Vol. 5, Iss: 1, pp 7-18
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the relationship between quality of life and health by applying the discourses emerging in the health sector to other fields and other disciplines, which constitute social representation based on subjective parameters such as satisfaction of basic needs and of the needs created by the degree of economical and social development of a given society.
Abstract: This paper discusses the relationships between quality of life and health by applying the discourses emerging in the health sector to other fields and other disciplines. These relationships constitute social representation based on subjective parameters (well-being, happiness, love, pleasure, personal satisfaction), and on objective ones such as satisfaction of basic needs and of the needs created by the degree of economical and social development of a given society. The text presents the main instruments which have been constructed during the last years for measuring quality of life, as well as the debate they cause. It also debates the semantic field where the representations and actions in favour of quality of life - such as the concept of development, democracy, quality, way and conditions of life - develop. In relation to the field of health, this article discusses the tendency to restrict the concept of quality of life to the biomedical area, associated with an economic assessment. It shows the variety of instruments created for measuring quality of life in accordance with the concept. Health promotion is considered one of the most relevant strategies in this field in order to avoid medical reductionism and to develop an interdisciplinary dialogue. It is argued that this proposal, however, still needs to be refined and tested in sanitary practices.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Use of the quality of life concept can actually help improve both the quality and the integrated, multidimensional nature of health care from a perspective that views the latter as a basic citizen's right.
Abstract: The quality of life (QL) concept has led to extensive scientific research and has been increasingly used by health care professionals treating a wide range of diseases. This paper addresses the historical use of the concept and specific issues linked to conceptual and methodological aspects of the QL construct within the health care context. Reviewing the literature, two aspects stand out: subjectivity and multidimensionality. In the methodological field, the construction and/or adaptation of QL measurement instruments appear as a significant trend. Theoretical and methodological efforts have helped clarify and improve the concept's adequacy. The QL construct is definitely interdisciplinary, encompassing contributions by different areas of knowledge and research, thereby improving its conceptual and methodological potential as a research instrument. Therefore, use of the concept can actually help improve both the quality and the integrated, multidimensional nature of health care from a perspective that views the latter as a basic citizen's right.

684 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the social and particularly the health consequences resulting from the expansion of the numbers of elderly people in Brazil over a short period, and they express an improvement in elderly people's health conditions and similar distribution of chronic diseases across all income groups.
Abstract: The paper discusses the social and, particularly, the health consequences resulting from the expansion of the numbers of elderly people in Brazil over a short period. The data used were from the 1998 and 2003 Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicilios (PNAD, the national household sampling survey), and they express an improvement in elderly people's health conditions and similar distribution of chronic diseases across all income groups. If, on the one hand, elderly people present greater disease burden and incapacities and they use healthcare services more, on the other hand, the current models for healthcare for the elderly are shown to be inefficient and high-cost. Creative and innovative structures are required, such as social centers with health assessments and treatment. Foremost on the agenda for Brazilian public policy, priority should be given to maintaining elderly people's functional capacity, with monitoring of their health conditions; preventive and differentiated actions relating to health and education; and qualified care and multidimensional comprehensive attendance.

512 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Pilates method can offer significant improvement in personal autonomy, static balance and quality of life.

193 citations


Cites background from "Qualidade de vida e saúde: um debat..."

  • ...Quality of life is a subjective concept, although it can be understood as a measure of perfect physical, psychic and social well-being (Minayo et al., 2000)....

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  • ...ava i lab le at www.sc ienced i rec t . com journa l homepage : www.e lsev ier . com/ jbmt...

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a pesquisa transversal that analyzes associacoes da pratica of atividades esportivas to qualidade de vida dos individuos is presented.
Abstract: Acredita-se na atividade fisica como uma forma de restaurar a saude dos efeitos nocivos que a rotina estressante do trabalho/estudo traz. O estudo constitui uma pesquisa transversal que objetiva analisar as associacoes da pratica de atividades esportivas na qualidade de vida dos individuos. A amostra foi constituida por 107 professores, 111 funcionarios e 638 estudantes da Universidade Catolica de Pelotas (UCPel), totalizando 863 participantes. Foram utilizados como instrumentos o WHOQOL-breve/OMS para avaliar a qualidade de vida e questionario de atividades fisicas habituais traduzido e modificado por NahasNuPAF/UFSC, 2001. Do total, 394 sao do sexo masculino e 469 do sexo feminino. Destes, 313 sao moderadamente ativos, 210 inativos, 207 ativos e 136 sao muito ativos. Pode-se observar que, em media, quanto mais ativa a pessoa e, melhor sua qualidade de vida. Alem disso, dentre as diferencas na qualidade de vida das pessoas que praticam atividades fisicas comparadas com as que nao praticam, nao estao apenas os aspectos de saude fisica, mas tambem aspectos psicologicos e cognitivos. Estes resultados servem de estimulo a profissionais de diferentes areas para incentivarem e apoiarem a definicao de rotinas de atividades fisicas para seus pacientes.

188 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of falls and their consequences on the quality of life of elderly people living in a low-income community in the city of Rio de Janeiro was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of falls and their consequences on the quality of life of elderly people living in a low-income community in the city of Rio de Janeiro. This article is part of an explorative research conducted at CLAVES, using quantitative and qualitative methods. In this study we used quantitative data about falls and quality of life. 72 elderly aged over 60 years participated in the study. 51,4% of them were females, 20,8% lived alone and 37,5% admitted having suffered a fall during the last year. Among the most frequently mentioned consequences were fractures (24,3%), the fear of falling (88,5%), abandonment of activities (26,9%), change of habits (23,1%) and immobilization (19%). The analysis showed that falls have influence upon in the quality of life of the aged. The WHOQOL-Bref domain scores showed a reduction in the means of the group that had suffered falls during the last year in comparison to those who didn't fall, and the difference was more significant in the psychological field. In short, falls are frequent among the elderly and bring consequences that change the quality of life of these people in a negative way. Their incidence can be avoided by identifying the causes and developing appropriate preventive measures.

175 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The World Health Organization's project to develop a quality of life instrument (the WHOQOL) is described, the reasons that the project was undertaken, the thinking that underlies the project, the method that has been followed in its development and the current status of the project.

5,273 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data suggest that patients with various chronic disorders may have QoL that is lower in most domains compared to a healthy population, however, there may be differences in the domains affected as well as the extent of variation across specific chronic disorders.
Abstract: The purpose of this report is to examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, across patient populations with chronic disorders and to compare quality of life (QoL) in these subjects with normative data on healthy persons. Six studies, within the Center for Research in Chronic Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, in patients with urinary incontinence, prostate cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), fibromyalgia and hyperlipidaemia provided the data for analysis. The results demonstrated that not only did the prostate cancer and hyperlipidaemia patients have the highest QoL across the chronic disorders, but their QoL was comparable to normative data on healthy persons. Homebound, elderly, incontinent patients had the lowest QoL for physical functioning, whereas patients hospitalized with AIDS had the lowest QoL in general health and social functioning. Patients with COPD had the lowest QoL in role-physical, role-emotional and mental health. Patients with fibromyalgia had the lowest QoL in bodily pain and vitality. Compared to normative data, patients with urinary incontinence, COPD, AIDS and fibromyalgia generally had lower QoL. Prostate cancer and hyperlipidaemia patients had QoL comparable to normative data. Compared to normative data, patients with urinary incontinence, COPD, AIDS and fibromyalgia had more variability for role-emotional. AIDS patients had more variability on physical functioning, bodily pain and social functioning compared to the normative data. These data suggest that patients with various chronic disorders may have QoL that is lower in most domains compared to a healthy population. However, there may be differences in the domains affected as well as the extent of variation across specific chronic disorders.

346 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The main barriers to collecting QoL data are logistic and the challenge remains to develop a method of collecting and analysingQoL information in a manner which enhances decision making.
Abstract: A large amount of quality of life (QoL) information has been and is being collected in the oncology setting but it is unclear how such data influence decisions about the management of individual patients. A questionnaire designed specifically for the study was mailed to 260 senior oncologists to investigate how QoL data are being used outside the context of cancer clinical trials; replies were received from 154 (59%). Approximately 80% believed QoL information should be collected prior to the commencement of treatment, but less than 50% actually did so. Similarly, less than 50% assessed QoL as a method of monitoring the responses to treatment even when the treatment goal was palliation. The barriers to collecting such data were time and resource constraints, perceived lack of an appropriate instrument and a belief that QoL assessments were unnecessary. Other than making a subjective assessment based on examination and history, 73 (47%) used either standardized questionnaires or a system derived in their unit to assess the QoL of their patients. Given an appropriate instrument the majority believed that QoL data could be collected on a routine basis. The main barriers to collecting QoL data are logistic and the challenge remains to develop a method of collecting and analysing QoL information in a manner which enhances decision making.

219 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The background and rationale for a composite indicator that incorporates mortality and morbidity into a single number, healthy life-year (HeaLY), that can aid in setting health priorities and identifying disadvantaged groups are presented.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This paper presents the background and rationale for a composite indicator, healthy life-year (HeaLY), that incorporates mortality and morbidity into a single number. HeaLY is compared with the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) indicator, to demonstrate the relative simplicity and ease of use of the former. METHODS: Data collected by the Ghana Health Assessment team from census records, death certificates, medical records, and special studies were used to create a spreadsheet. HeaLYs lost as a result of premature mortality and disability from 56 conditions were estimated. RESULTS: Two thirds of HeaLYs lost in Ghana were from maternal and communicable diseases and were largely preventable. The age weighting in DALYs leads to a higher value placed on deaths at younger ages than in HeaLYs. This spreadsheet can be used as a template for assessing changes in health status attributable to interventions. CONCLUSIONS: HeaLY can aid in setting health priorities and identifying disadvantaged groups. ...

110 citations