Nurse knowledge about potentially inappropriate medications for elderly

Due to the consequences of changes in fertility and mortality rates, there is an increase in population aging. In this context, the use of potentially inappropriate medications in this population makes nurses important agents in the identification of adverse reactions, requiring their knowledge about these drugs and their effects. The study aimed to verify nurses knowledge about the 2015 AGS BeersCriteria, regarding the potentially inappropriate medications for the elderly, and their adverse effects. It is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study with a quantitative and qualitative approach performed in a teaching hospital in the Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 80 professionals, 74.1% reported attending the elderly frequently, and only 3.8% had a specialization course in elderly health. Only 13.8% reported knowing the Beers Criteria. And 69% believe that adverse drug reactions can be confused as a new symptom and because of this, new drugs can be inserted into the therapeutic plan. Three categories emerged: The importance of assertive knowledge about PIMs, The nurse as a fundamental character in ADR, and Knowledge as a reinforcer of care. There is evidence of the need to train nurses to better identify adverse drug reactions so that they can act on these events avoiding the worsening of the individual.

Physical exercise and functional capacity in elderly from the south triangle health regional ­ Minas Gerais state, Brazil: evaluation by gender / Exercício físico e capacidade funcional em idosos na regional de saúde triângulo do sul ­ Minas Gerais: avaliação por gênero

The aim of this study was to verify the functional capacity between genders as well as the practice of physical exercises in accordance with procedures among elderly people from municipalities in the South Triangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data relating to the practice of physical exercise and functional capacity were obtained by means of a structured questionnaire and the Katz scale, respectively. It was found that most of the elderly was independent to carry out the activities of daily life, even if they were not adept at exercising. Women showed a higher dependency level compared to men. As regards the modalities of exercise and those who practice them, men prefer to walk and swim, while women prefer aerobics and weight training. These results allow concluding that elderly respondents do not practice the modalities under study (walking, aqua aerobics, weight training and swimming), although they are independent to daily life activities. Regular and supervised exercise programs are recommended for elderly of all age groups, with a view to promoting a better quality of life and preventing functional incapacity.

O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar a capacidade funcional entre os gêneros, bem como a prática de exercícios físicos segundo modalidades em idosos de municípios do Triângulo do Sul, Minas Gerais. Os dados referentes à prática de exercício físico e capacidade funcional foram obtidos através de um questionário estruturado e pela Escala de Katz, respectivamente. Verificou-se que grande parte dos idosos era independente para a realização das atividades de vida diária, mesmo não sendo adeptos a prática de exercício físico. As mulheres apresentaram nível de dependência maior em comparação aos homens. No que se refere às modalidades de exercícios, e daqueles que a realizam, os homens tem preferência pela caminhada e natação, enquanto as mulheres por hidroginástica e musculação. Estes resultados permitem concluir que os idosos respondentes não são adeptos das modalidades em estudo (caminhada, hidroginástica, musculação e natação), apesar de serem independentes para atividades de vida diária. Programas de exercícios orientados são recomendados para que o idoso alcance maior qualidade de vida e previna a incapacidade funcional.