Self-care Activities Research Articles

Functional performance and symptomatology of adults with skeletal dysplasia across self-care, mobility, and cognition – a cross-sectional study

Abstract Purpose Individuals with skeletal dysplasia (SD) experience physical challenges in performing everyday activities as a result of their altered biomechanics and systemic comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to objectively assess functional performance and identify symptomatology across self-care, mobility, and cognitive tasks amongst adults with SD. The secondary aim was to describe any differences in performance between individuals with proportionate forms of SD compared to those with disproportionate forms. Methods A cross-sectional online survey and functional assessment, the Functional Independence Measure, was administered to adults diagnosed with SD. Summary statistics were computed and analysed. Survey open-ended text responses were examined. Results Data was collected on 40 adults (median age 41.2 years) presenting with ten types of SD (14 with proportionate SD, 26 disproportionate SD). Thirty-nine (97.5%) participants required assistance or modification when completing functional activities. Increased reliance on assistance was observed across self-care and mobility tasks (median FIM scores 51/56 and 31.5/35 respectively), compared to cognitive items (median FIM score 34.5/35). Up to 50% of participants reported experiencing pain, fatigue, and/or other symptoms during self-care and mobility tasks. These symptoms were more prevalent when completing self-care activities at home and when mobilising in the community. Participants with proportionate forms of skeletal dysplasia demonstrated higher levels of independence in upper body dressing, toileting, and bed/chair/wheelchair transfers, whereas participants with disproportionate forms had higher scores in eating and grooming tasks. Conclusions Adults with SD demonstrated functional challenges and symptomatology associated with activities of daily living. Overall, there are minimal differences in FIM scores between individuals with proportionate forms of SD and those with disproportionate forms. Use of assistive equipment, modifications, and allowing extra time with tasks may improve independence amongst this population group.

PENERAPAN TERAPI PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION TERHADAP NYERI AKUT PRE OPERASI FRACTURE NECK FEMUR

Fractures or breaks in the continuity of bone structure are a major problem in the health sector. Tissue damage causes several typical clinical manifestations, namely pain. If not treated immediately, it can cause immobilization of the individual to carry out self-care activities. This study aims to determine the application of progressive muscle relaxation therapy to acute pain in preoperative patients with left femoral neck fractures in the Agung Wilis Accident Surgery Room, Blambangan Hospital. The research design used a case study of nursing care for femoral neck fracture patients with acute pain and carried out assessment, diagnosis, action planning, implementation and evaluation. Data collection methods through interviews and direct observation. The results of Mrs. N complained of pain from a femoral neck fracture, pain like being stabbed in the thigh area radiating to the pelvis on a scale of 7, the pain seemed to come and go. Interventions are given to reduce pain levels with progressive muscle relaxation. The evaluation revealed a change in the scale before therapy was given, namely a pain scale of 7 to 5. It can be concluded that the application of progressive muscle relaxation can be an alternative in treating pain in fracture sufferers.

Compassion Fatigue Among Australian Oncology Nurses Caring for Adult Cancer Patients: Antecedents, Impactand Mediators.

To explore how Australian oncology nurses perceive and experience compassion fatigue when caring for adult cancer patients, how they mitigate compassion fatigue and identify potential interventions to address compassion fatigue. A qualitative, descriptive study. Twenty Australian oncology nurses caring for adult cancer patients were interviewed between August and September 2023. Participants were recruited from a larger, quantitative study. Interviews were conducted virtually, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Three themes and nine sub-themes were identified. Participants viewed heavy workloads, low staffingand organisational support as contributing factors to compassion fatigue. They described compassion fatigue as a feeling of having nothing left to give, impacting their ability to self-care, deliver quality patient care and maintain relationships. The pride participants felt in their cancer care work helped mitigate compassion fatigue. Self-care strategies, workplace mentoringand support were identified as ways to mitigate compassion fatigue. The work of oncology nurses can contribute to compassion fatigue, which may impact nurses and patient care. Organisations would benefit from supporting staff to engage in self-care activities, professional development and mentoring. Findings support a multi-tiered approach to addressing compassion fatigue among oncology nurses. Organisations can prioritise adequate staffing levels, mentoring opportunities, focused well-being interventions and provide avenues for meaningful recognition. This study adheres to the COREQ reporting guidelines. No patient or public contribution.

The Validation of Diabetes Mellitus Discharge Planning Module Incorporated into the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activity

Background: In Indonesia, several hospitals have designed various forms of discharge planning in line with the guidelines provided by the Indonesian Endocrinology Association. These initiatives were implemented to enhance the quality of healthcare service. Despite the efforts made by the government, the rate of non-compliance (9%) and readmission (20%) has continued to increase. This indicates that there is a need to reevaluate the existing discharge planning module. Therefore, this study aims to validate the contents of the diabetes mellitus discharge planning module, which was incorporated into the summary of diabetes self-care activity. The effectiveness of the intervention in improving the compliance of patients with self-care activity was also evaluated. Materials and Methods: This study used a mixed methodological approach, which combined an evaluation method and an experimental quantitative design. The content validity of the module used was carried out using professional judgment, involving competent experts in the bahteramas hospital in southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. The sample population consisted of sixty-five randomly selected respondents, who participated in the validation of the summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire, which had three phases, namely pre-test, during, fieldwork, and post-test. Results: The content validity of the module was tested using Aiken’s v, and the results ranged from 0.82 to 0.88 for each session, indicating that it was valid. Furthermore, the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) obtained in this study was acceptable, with values ranging from 0.60 to 0.92. Conclusions: The results showed that the diabetes mellitus discharge planning module could be used to improve self-care among patients.

Occupational Performance Coaching on Health Self-Care Behavior and Activity Participation for Adults With Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Patients with heart failure (HF) experience restrictions in their activity participation. Health self-care behavior (HSCB) among patients with HF is an essential component of managing HF symptoms. To assess the effect of occupational performance coaching (OPC) on improving activity participation and HSCB among patients with HF. Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Outpatient HF clinic in Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical & Research Center (Tehran, Iran). Forty-four adults with HF randomized into two groups (1:1 ratio). All participants received the usual health self-care education, and the intervention group also received eight weekly sessions of the OPC intervention. HSCB and activity participation were the primary outcomes. Primary outcomes and secondary outcomes (depression, quality of life, self-efficacy, cognitive level, fatigue, social support, functional capacity, and activities of daily living) were collected at baseline and 8 and 12 wk postintervention. The results of two-way repeated-measures analysis of covariance for three assessment time points with the primary and secondary outcomes showed a significant improvement in primary outcomes and depression (p < .05) among the intervention group. There were no significant between-groups differences in the other outcomes (p > .05). These findings indicate that an 8-wk OPC intervention could enhance HSCB and activity participation and reduce depression among patients with HF. Therefore, integrating OPC into standard care may improve the well-being of patients with HF. Moreover, the results suggest that the participation-based interventions have the potential to enhance HSCB among HF patients. Plain-Language Summary: Occupational performance coaching (OPC) is a client-centered occupational therapy intervention designed to enhance behavior change and activity participation by promoting the development of healthy habits and routines. This study presents important insights into the impact of the OPC intervention on patients with heart failure (HF). Our findings indicate that the OPC intervention can significantly improve health self-care behavior, increase participation, and reduce depression among HF patients.

Predicting the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile of Pregnant Women Based on Their Health Literacy Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Health literacy is considered as key factor to empower women to participate in self-care and child-care activities. The purpose of the present study is to determine the relationship between health-promoting behaviours and health literacy among pregnant women. A cross-sectional study. This study surveyed 308 pregnant women in 2022 using questionnaires, including the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) and the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA). Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the data by IBM SPSS 23.0 statistics package program. The mean scores for women's health literacy and health-promoting behaviours were 70.31 ± 13.56 and 135.56 ± 17.38, respectively. The lowest score in the health literacy subscales was related to the appraisal (66.07 ± 17.81) and in the health-promoting lifestyle dimensions was associated with the physical activity dimension (13.87 ± 3.87). There was a significant and positive correlation between health literacy and health-promoting behaviours (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). Among the health literacy dimensions, decision-making showed the strongest correlation with health-promoting lifestyle (r = 0.55, p < 0.001). The results of this study demonstrated that pregnant women with higher health literacy scores exhibited a higher level of engagement in health-promoting behaviours. Assessing health-promoting behaviours in pregnant women by health providers during prenatal care helps identify dimensions receiving less attention during pregnancy, and solutions can be provided to women to address these issues.

Effectiveness of Postoperative Dietary Intervention in Patients with Gastric Cancer who Underwent Gastrectomy: Quasi-Experimental Study Design.

This article aims to investigate the effects of a postoperative dietary intervention on fatigue, self-efficacy in managing gastrointestinal side effects, self-efficacy for nutritional management, self-care activity, and unmet nursing needs among patients with gastric cancer who have undergone gastrectomy. We used a quasi-experimental study design (nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest). Data were collected from 59 patients with gastric cancer (30 in the experimental group and 29 in the control patients) hospitalized for gastrectomy in Daegu, South Korea. The control group completed a preintervention survey, received routine care, and then completed a postintervention survey. After the control group finished their routine care and tests, the experimental group received a postoperative dietary intervention. This intervention included individual face-to-face education and telephone counseling on managing gastrectomy side effects, eating methods to prevent symptoms, foods to avoid, ways to consume sufficient calories, maintaining a balanced diet, and pledge writing. The control group served as a waitlist control. After all interventions and tests for the experimental group were completed, the same dietary intervention was offered to the control group upon their request. This experimental study was conducted from June 2021 to February 2023. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in fatigue (P = .005), self-efficacy in managing gastrointestinal side effects (P < .001), self-efficacy for nutritional management (P = .03), self-care activity (P < .001), and unmet nursing needs (P < .001). Postoperative dietary interventions contribute to improving self-efficacy, fatigue levels, and self-care activity among patients with gastric cancer. Upon discharge, implementing a needs-based and loss-framed message-based dietary intervention, alongside routine discharge education, for patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer can enhance fatigue levels, self-efficacy in managing nutrition and gastrointestinal side effects, self-care activity, and unmet nursing needs.

Managing the work of living with heart failure: a qualitative study using the cumulative complexity model from Southeastern Minnesota

ObjectivePatients with heart failure (HF) perform a variety of self-care activities to control symptoms and minimise the risk of HF decompensations. The objective of this study was to understand how...

Effect of Community-Based Integrated Care for Patients With Diabetes and Depression (CIC-PDD) in China: A Pragmatic Cluster-Randomized Trial.

To develop a care model for patients with both diabetes and depression and assess the model's effectiveness. In this pragmatic cluster randomized trial, we allocated eight community health centers into two groups: the enhanced usual care group and the intervention group. A comprehensive care plan was developed for the intervention group based on the integrated care model. We recruited individuals aged ≥18 years with type 2 diabetes and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥10). The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the percentage of patients who had at least a 50% reduction in depressive symptoms and a reduction of at least 0.5 percentage points in HbA1c. The outcome analysis was conducted within the intention-to-treat population; missing data were multiply imputed. We enrolled 630 participants, with 275 in the intervention group and 355 in the control group. A significantly greater percentage of patients in the intervention group met the primary outcome at 12 months (for depressive symptoms: risk difference [RD] 31.03% [62.06% vs. 31.02%, respectively; 95% CI 21.85-40.21]; for HbA1c: RD 19.16% [32.41% vs. 13.25%, respectively; 95% CI 11.35-26.97]). The patients in the intervention group showed significant enhancements in mental quality of life (mean difference [MD] 6.74 [46.57 vs. 39.83, respectively; 95% CI 3.75-9.74]), diabetes self-care activities (MD 0.69 [3.46 vs. 2.78, respectively; 95% CI 0.52-0.86]), medication adherence (MD 0.72 [6.49 vs. 5.78, respectively; 95% CI 0.37-1.07]), and experience of care (MD 0.89 [3.84 vs. 2.95, respectively; 95% CI 0.65-1.12]) at 12 months. Rural participants benefited more from the intervention. The implementation strategy can serve as a valuable blueprint for the identification and treatment of patients with physical and mental multimorbidity in primary health care settings.

Glycemic control and associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes in Southwest Ethiopia: a prospective observational study

BackgroundDiabetes, a known syndrome marked by hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance, is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Over half a billion people worldwide have DM, and most live in low- and middle-income countries. Poor glycemic control is a public health concern in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glycemic control and identifying factors associated with poor glycemic control can help healthcare providers design programs that improve glycemic control and the quality of services provided to patients.ObjectivesThis study was designed to assess the level of glycemic control and associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes in Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia.MethodsThis institution-based prospective observational study was conducted among 420 patients with type 2 diabetes at Jimma Medical Center’s diabetic clinics. A pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, and a checklist was used to assess patient documents. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. The variables linked to poor glycemic control were investigated using binary logistic regression. Variables with p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsSix-month follow-ups were conducted among 420 patients with type 2 diabetes, among whom 220 (52.38%) were women. The median age of the participants was 54(IQR = 40–60 years old). The proportion of respondents with uncontrolled fasting blood glucose was 58.1%. Sex (AOR = 2.576, 95% CI [2.80-11.479], P = 0.001), age(≥ 60) (AOR = 2.024, 95% CI [1.794–4.646], P = 0.002), diabetes duration > 10 years (AOR = 3.036, 95% CI [2.616–8.306], P = 0.003), type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin + oral antidiabetic (OADs) (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI [298-3.918], P = 0.004), obesity (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI [(1.218–4.218)], P = 0.003), diabetic complications (AOR = 3.193, 95% CI [2.324–6.05], p = 0.002) and poor self-care practices (AOR = 3.034, 95% CI [5.821–7.02], P = 0.005) were found to be significantly associated with poor glycemic control.ConclusionAt the Jimma Medical Center, the prevalence of poor glycemic control was high. Based on these findings, teaching and counseling provided by healthcare providers should focus on improving diabetes self-care activities, weight reduction, and diabetic complications to achieve good glycemic control.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

Self-care practices among hypertensive patients at the primary health care centers in Unaizah city, Saudi Arabia.

This study assessed the self-care practices among hypertensive patients at the primary health centers in Unaizah city, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023, at all primary healthcare centers in Unaizah city. A total of 372 hypertensive patients, aged 18 and older, who had been on follow-up care for at least 6 months were randomly selected using a cluster sampling method. Data regarding socio-demographics, health history, and hypertensive self-care practices (H-SCALE) were collected using a validated questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 41.4 ± 9.6 years. Of them, 34.1% were males and 65.9% were females. Only 14.0% were smokers, 55.9% had hypertension for less than 1 year, and 53.8% did not monitor their blood pressure. None of them was addicted to any substance or using alcohol. The most commonly associated chronic disease among the participants was hyperlipidemia (61.3%), followed by diabetes mellitus. The participants were most likely reported engaging in weight management-related self-care activities, followed by healthy diet activities, and medication adherence. The H-SCALE scores increased as the frequency of engagement in self-care activities increased. There were significant differences in H-SCALE scores based on age, gender, education level, and employment status. Engaging in self-care activities is associated with better self-care behavior. Age, gender, education level, and employment status are significant predictors of hypertension self-care behaviors. Healthcare providers should educate hypertensive patients on blood pressure monitoring and integrated management of hypertension and other chronic diseases.

Assessment of Diabetic Self-Management Practices of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus at Chilenje, Kanyama and Chawama First Level Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a rising global health problem which requires continuous self-management practice to prevent acute and chronic complications. However, studies show that few diabetic patients practice the recommended self-management practices. This study aimed at assessing self-management practices among diabetic patients at Chilenje, Chawama and Kanyama First Level Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. Methodology: A hospital based cross-sectional analytical design was used for this study. The study population included all adult patients with diabetes mellitus who receive care at Chilenje, Chawama and Kanyama First Level Hospitals in Lusaka District. Fish bowl sampling without replacement was used to select participants and sample size calculated was 167. Data were collected using a structured interview guide adapted from the Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences v26.0 at 5% level of significance. Ethical clearance and permission to collect research data were sought and granted accordingly. Results: This study had a total 167 participants. Overall, the study observed that 122 (73%) patients reported poor self-management practices while only 45 (27%) reported good self-management. Unacceptable fasting glucose level ranges vs. acceptable fasting glucose level ranges (AOR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.99) p- value = 0.049 and 5 – 9 years with diabetes vs. less than 5 years and more than 9 years with diabetes (AOR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.95) p- value 0.039 were statistically significant predictors of poor self-management practices among diabetic patients. Conclusion: This study showed that majority of diabetic patients had poor self -management practices. The study further observed that patients with unacceptable fasting blood glucose level ranges and those with diabetes for 5 – 9 years were more likely to have poor self-management practices. ...

The Effectiveness of Self-Care in Diabetics on Self-Insulin Administration and Behavioral Markers Among Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

ABSTRACT Background: Diabetes mellitus is a long-term, progressive metabolic disease that is primarily caused by an absolute type 1 diabetes or relative type 2 diabetes, which lacks the hormone insulin. Diabetes education is essential, but patients must fully realize its benefits through action or self-care activities. Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of self-care in diabetics on self-insulin administration and behavioral markers among adolescents with type I diabetes. Methods: This study adopted quantitative research methodology, utilizing a true experimental research design with pretest and post-test phases. Power analysis was used to calculate the study sample of 105 per group. The total sample size of the study is 210; the experimental group consists of 105 members, while the control group consists of 105 members. The study was conducted from 21.12.2022 till 22.03.2023. We assessed insulin administration knowledge through a self-structured questionnaire and level of depression by using the WHO Wellbeing Scale. Levels of anxiety were measured by using the Hospital anxiety and depression scale. After the intervention, post-test 1 was conducted at the end of 13 weeks and post-test 2 was conducted after 25 weeks. Results: The study revealed a significant difference in the scores for insulin administration, depression, and anxiety levels between the pretest, post-test 1, and post-test 2 in the experimental group (P &lt; 0.001). In contrast, the control group showed no statistical differences across these time points. Conclusion: The study concluded that self-care in diabetics successfully improved the knowledge of insulin administration, reduced anxiety levels, and decreased depression in adolescents diagnosed with type I diabetes.

The Role of Resilience, Social Support, and Artistic Activities in Mental Health During Pandemics.

This study investigated the impact of intentional activities (IAs) on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bogotá, Colombia, and the mediating role of family support, social support, and resilience. Results in Study One showed significant predictions of psychological variables by gender, age, and education. Men exhibited higher resilience, while age negatively predicted mental health issues and positively predicted family support, social support, and resilience. In Study Two, IAs predicted family support, social support, and resilience. However, when these mediators were included in predicting mental health, IAs no longer directly predicted it, while family support, social support, and resilience did. In Study Three, an exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors that encompass IAs: creative artistic activities and self-care activities factors. Performing these activities at least once a week positively predicted mental health outcomes, with participants reporting lower mental health issues and higher levels of family support, social support, and resilience. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the importance of engaging in intentional activities during the pandemic for maintaining mental health. Family support, social support, and resilience significantly mediate IAs and mental health outcomes. Encouraging individuals to engage in creative artistic activities and self-care at home may be a cost-effective strategy to promote mental well-being during challenging times.

Long-Term Effects of an Automated Personalized Self-Care Program for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and longer disease duration increase the risk of complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), highlighting the need for continuous management. This study evaluated the 18-month effects of the Automated Personalized Self-Care (APSC) program on self-care self-efficacy, diabetes self-care, and complication risk indices in T2DM patients through a randomized controlled trial. Participants aged 40-69 years were assigned to either an intervention group using the APSC mobile app, which provided personalized goals, automated feedback, and monthly support, or a comparison group. The final analysis included 43 engaged participants from the intervention group and 78 from the comparison group. Data were collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months using structured questionnaires and medical record reviews and analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Significant effects were observed for self-care self-efficacy, diabetes self-care activities, vegetable intake, HbA1c, and total cholesterol levels. The APSC program showed potential to improve long-term self-care and reduce complication risk in T2DM patients. Further research with a larger samples and strategies to promote long-term engagement is needed for its integration into routine diabetes care. Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service: KCT0007672.

Determinats factors self-management barriers: characteristics, spiritual well-being, and religiosity in type 2 diabetes patients

Holistic nursing needs to evaluate barriers to self-management, insight from characteristics, religiosity, and spiritual well-being to understand and address the multifaceted needs of individuals with chronic conditions, such as diabetes mellitus type 2. This study aimed to identify the determining factors that affect the barriers to self-management and the variables affecting them among Indonesian patients with T2DM. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 101 patients recruited via purposive sampling from March to May 2023. The research instruments used were the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Islamic Religiosity Scale, and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities. The potential multicollinearity effects among the predictors of the barriers to self-management were also evaluated using multiple linear stepwise regression and collinearity analysis of variable inflation factors (VIFs). Most of the respondents had moderate spiritual well-being (52.2%) and high Islamic religiosity (60.4%) but also had barriers to self-management (55%). The F value of 5.888 with a probability of 0.004 (&amp;lt;0.05) showed that based on their regression coefficients, spiritual well-being, and Islamic religiosity simultaneously affected the barriers to self-management by 10.7%. The determinants that were found to affect the barriers to self-management were spiritual well-being and religiosity. These results suggest that it is necessary to develop an intervention model to improve the self-management of T2DM with a holistic approach.

Nurse-Led Mobile Phone Intervention to Promote Self-Management in Type 2 Diabetes in Ghana: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of the study was to test the effectiveness of a nurse-led mobile phone intervention (NMPI) on glycemic variability and self-management among people living with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Ghana. In this randomized controlled trial, the intervention group received a 3-month NMPI program plus standard care, and the control group received standard care alone in a tertiary health care setting. Ninety-eight participants (baseline A1C > 7%) were randomized 1:1 to either NMPI or standard care group. The primary study outcomes were changes in A1C testing and self-management assessed using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities tool at baseline and end of the study. The intervention group had statistically significant improvement in their mean A1C level from baseline to the end of the study. In comparison, the control group also had improvement in their mean A1C level but was not statistically significant. Consistently, the intervention participants had better statistically significant improvements in self-management behaviors than the control group. There was a medium, negative correlation between A1C changes and overall self-care changes for the intervention group, whereas that of the control group was smaller. Study findings have shown that a tailored NMPI program in addition to standard care could improve glycemic variability and self-management among people living with poorly managed T2DM in Ghana better than standard care alone.

Finding meaning during COVID-19: the experiences of single millennial women

ABSTRACT Ten single, female millennials were interviewed about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on meaning in life (MIL). The participants generally reported that the pandemic clarified what gave them meaning, and they scored higher on MIL than adult women prior to the pandemic. Almost all participants reported more meaning in helping others and in their relationships during the pandemic. However, they also found it hard to maintain relationships, found it challenging to date, and became more distant with some friends during the pandemic. Participants reported that having more time to focus on themselves during the pandemic had many benefits, including gaining more self-insight and more self-acceptance, having more time to reflect, and engaging in more self-care activities. Results are discussed in relation to what we learned specifically related to coping during the pandemic. Implications for finding meaning in the face of hardship are discussed.

How the Occupational Competence and Quality of Life in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Changed During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Design Study

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the occupational competence and quality of life of parents of children with autism using a mixed-methods design. It compared 220 parents of children with autism to 300 parents of neurotypical children, utilizing the Occupational Self-Assessment, Short Form 36 Health Survey, and qualitative interviews for data collection. Quantitative results revealed significant differences in occupational competence and quality of life between the two groups. Qualitative interviews underscored changes in parents’ professional and social roles, along with reductions in self-care, productivity, and recreational activities, particularly affecting parents of children with autism.

DESEMPENHO FÍSICOS EM IDOSOS SEDENTÁRIOS

In the study with 30 sedentary elderly individuals between 60 and 80 years of age, physical and functional capacity tests were performed. In the 6-Minute Walk Test, the elderly individuals aged 60 to 69 years walked an average of 4 meters, while those aged 70 to 79 and 80 years walked 5 and 6 meters, respectively. In the Lawton Scale, which assesses independence in instrumental activities, most elderly individuals showed a need for help, showing that dependence increases with age. In the Katz Scale, 37% of the elderly individuals aged 60 to 69 years, 43% of those aged 70 to 79 years and 20% of those aged 80 years maintained independence in basic self-care activities.