| 1. |
- Borglin, Gunilla, 1959-, et al.
(författare)
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Older people in Sweden with various degrees of present quality of life : their health, social support, everyday activities and sense of coherence
- 2006
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Ingår i: Health & Social Care in the Community. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0966-0410 .- 1365-2524. ; 14:2, s. 136-146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Public health policies in most European countries are concerned with how to keep older people living independently with a qualitatively good life in the community as long as possible. However, knowledge about what may characterise those seemingly 'healthy' older people is sparse. The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics of a sample of people (75+) reporting various degrees of Quality of Life (QoL) with respect to QoL in different areas, as well as self-rated health, health problems, social support, everyday activities and sense of coherence. A postal questionnaire was sent out in spring 2001 to a randomly selected population-based sample (n= 600) in the southern parts of Sweden. A two-step cluster analysis was performed (n= 385, mean age 84.6, SD = 5.7) with 'present QoL' as clustering attribute. Three groups were disclosed, classified as high, intermediate and low present QoL, of which 33.8% could be regarded being at risk of low QoL. Those with low present QoL (18.4%) were the oldest and most vulnerable, a majority were women with 'poor or bad' self-rated health, high frequencies of health problems, low total QoL, low social support and sense of coherence and less physically active. Those with high present QoL (47.8%) reported more 'excellent or good' self-rated health, physical activity, satisfactory social support and higher sense of coherence and total QoL than the other two groups. Those with intermediate present QoL (33.8%) had more of 'poor or bad' self-rated health, more health problems were less physically active, had lower total QoL and sense of coherence, and less social support than those with high present QoL. The sample seemed to reflect the ageing process in that the respondents were at different stages of ageing. However, the fact that the level of social support, sense of coherence and self-rated health followed the same curve as QoL may indicate that some are more vulnerable to low present QoL given the same health and these should be targeted in preventive programmes since they report low QoL.
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| 2. |
- Borglin, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
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Psychometric testing of a quality of life scale among Swedish people 75 years and above in need of help with activities of daily living or not
- 2006
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Ingår i: Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1361-9004. ; 9:Suppl. 1, s. 25-43
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Few Quality of Life (QoL) instruments in use today were originally developed for older populations (75+). Information on their validity and reliability in this age group is sparse. The current study investigated the psychometric properties of the Life Quality Gerontological Centre Scale (LGC), a general QoL instrument designed for use among older people. A further aim was to describe and compare QoL with gender and in people needing help with Activities of Daily Living and those not needing such help. A postal questionnaire surveyed 1093 people (mean age 82.7, SD 5.3). Principal component analysis revealed that LGC was reasonably stable as the construct-and cross validation more or less replicated the suggested QoL factors. The instrument differentiated between needing help and not and between men and women. LGC needs further development with respect to reliability, face and content validity but is potentially useful as a diagnostic or an outcome assessment after interventions among older people. Individuals in need of help and women had lower scores in several QoL areas and in total QoL scores compared to those not needing help and men. Older people’s QoL may be improved by interventions directed to areas beyond health and physical functioning. Men and women might also benefit from different interventions directed towards QoL.
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| 3. |
- Borglin, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
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Self-reported health complaints and their prediction of overall and health-related quality of life among elderly people
- 2005
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Ingår i: International Journal of Nursing Studies. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-491X .- 0020-7489. ; 42:2, s. 147-158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To describe and compare self-reported health complaints, overall and health-related quality of life and to investigate how health complaints, age, gender, marital status, living and dwelling conditions and socio-economy predicted overall and health-related quality of life. Data and Method: A sample of 469 persons (aged 75-99) responded to a postal questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine possible predictors. Result: Self-reported health complaints such as pain, fatigue and mobility impairment significantly predicted low overall and health-related quality life. Women had significantly lower overall and health-related quality of life than men, and a significantly higher degree of self-reported health complaints. The regression models had more similarities than differences, implying that the overall quality of life instrument were sensitive to physical influences only supposed to be detected by health-related quality of life instruments. Several of the health complaints predicting low quality of life are amenable for being relieved by nursing care. In the care of older people nurses need to assess for several health complaints simultaneously and be aware of their possible interaction when outlining interventions. Nurses are able to facilitate early detection of health complaints negatively affecting quality of life by implementing more pro-active preventive work as well as a higher degree of thorough and systematic assessments. It also seems important to consider that older woman's and men's needs for high quality of life may differ.
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| 4. |
- Borglin, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
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The experience of quality of life among older people
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of Aging Studies. - : Elsevier BV. - 0890-4065 .- 1879-193X. ; 19:2, s. 201-220
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although quality of life has been in the focus of attention for over a decade there are few studies available investigating, how the old and the oldest old experience their quality of life or what quality of life actually means for them? To illuminate this, eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with six women and five men (80+) living in their home. An interpretative hermeneutic phenomenological analysis revealed that quality of life in old age meant a preserved self and meaning in existence. Maintained self-image meant that the older people experienced a coherent life with an intact meaning. How quality of life was valued depended on the meaning the old people attached to the areas of importance as well as how they were evaluated. Additionally, areas not generally included when measuring quality of life became discernible. The meaning of home, how life was viewed, thoughts about death and dying, and telling ones story proved to be areas of importance for their perception of quality of life. Thus, indicating that older people's view of quality of life is more complex than some of today's most commonly used quality of life instruments capture and that quality of life assessment tools needs to measure beyond pure health indices. For nursing care the use of life review in everyday care, and an open way towards existential topics as well as a family oriented care along with preventive work helping people to remain in their own homes may enhance their experience of quality of life.
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