Self-care ability and sense of coherence in older nutritional at-risk patients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate self-care ability and sense of coherence in geriatric rehabilitation patients nutritionally screened using the Nutritional Form For the Elderly and to relate the patients' perceived health to self-care ability and sense of coherence. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A geriatric rehabilitation ward in a hospital in western Sweden. Subjects: A sample of 172 consecutively recruited patients (65 þ years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. One hundred forty-four patients were included in the study because 16 patients refused to take part and 12 could not complete the entire data collection procedure. Methods: Interviews, using one instrument for nutritional screening and other instruments measuring self-care ability and sense of coherence and one question about perceived health, were performed. Results: Patients at medium or high risk for undernutrition had lower self-care ability (Po0.001) and weaker sense of coherence (P ¼ 0.007) than patients at low risk for undernutrition. Lower self-care ability, being single and admitted from another hospital ward was found to be predictors for being at medium or high risk for undernutrition. Patients who perceived good health had higher self-care ability (Po0.001) and stronger sense of coherence (Po0.001) than patients who perceived ill health. Conclusions: There is an indication that older patients at low risk for undernutrition have a greater capability to care for themselves than patients at medium or high risk for undernutrition. Perceived ill health in older patients is associated with lower self-care ability and weaker sense of coherence. Sponsorship: Supported by

The Factors that are Related to Self-Care Agency in Patients with Hypertension

“…Nutrition is an important thing in self-care where older respondents tend not to meet certain nutritional needs appropriately. Similar studies were also obtained by Soderhamn and Bachrach-Lindstrom (2008) in which 69% of respondents reported being at risk of nutritional distress at high risk of adverse health outcomes and decreased of self-care ability.…”

Narrated lived experiences of self-care and health among rural-living older persons with a strong sense of coherence

“…This study focuses on self-care in a group of older people with a strong SOC, who could be expected to have great potentialities for self-care 14. Indeed, quite a positive picture of older individuals’ self-care agency is revealed in the obtained general structure of self-care.…”

“…SOC is also considered as a major life orientation that focuses on problem solving 12,13. Since SOC is about resources for health and problem solving, it is conceptually related to self-care ability, which has been shown in a study among older patients at risk for undernutrition 14. SOC is also a significant predictor for self-care in older patients with chronic illness 15,16…”

The Handbook of Salutogenesis

“…For example, Helvik, Engedal, Bjorklof, and Selbaek (2012) and Soderhamn, Bachrach-Lindstrom, and Ek (2008) describe positive relations between the SOC and the self-care abilities of elderly patients in general, Spadoti Dantas, Silva, and Ciol (2014) report positive links to coping strategies in patients with overall chronic diseases, Ahola et al (2012) conclude that higher SOC scores in female diabetes patients are related to healthier food choices, and to more exercise in male diabetes patients. According to Pusswald et al (2009) the SOC is related to the coping abilities of Parkinson's disease patients, while Silarova, Nagyova, Van Dijk, Rosenberger, and Reijneveld (2013) describe low SOC scores as a risk factor for limited health-related behaviors in heart patients, and Myers, Drory, and Gerber (2011) suggest relations to patients' level of leisure-time activities after myocardial infarction.…”