DESEMPENHO FUNCIONAL E QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE IDOSOS PARTICIPANTES DE UM GRUPO DE CONVIVÊNCIA E DA COMUNIDADE.

Abstract

This thesis is composed by an article to be submitted to the Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy (BJPT) entitled "Comparison between functional performance and quality of life among elderly participants in a support group and from the community." This is a cross-sectional study, with an analytical character. It aimed to discuss and compare the functional performance, the physical activity level and quality of life among 113 elderly people, which 58 participate in a support group (case group) and 55 from the community (control group). The instruments used were: sociodemographic profile questionnaire, World Health Organization Quality Of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and World Health Organization Quality Of Life Assessment for Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD) questionnaires, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The results showed that the groups were similar in age, gender, education and marital status. The case group had the best results related to the quality of life in the social domain of WHOQOL-BREF (p=0.01), the facet social participation (p<0.001) and the total score of the WHOQOL-OLD (p=0.004), in functional mobility (p<0.001) and the physical activity level (p<0.001). Elderly people who participate in the support group have an important social experience, which help prevent and treat isolation, and the activities contribute to keep them active and to maintain and-or improve their functional mobility.