Polish Journal of Public Health

Original Article, Pol J Public Health 2020;130: 45-47

Wiesław Fidecki, Mariusz Wysokiński, Dorota Kulina, Kamil Kuszplak

Chair of Development in Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences Medical University of Lublin, Poland

10.2478/pjph-2020-0010

© 2020 Medical University of Lublin. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonComercial-No Derivs licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/)

Abstract

Introduction. Functional efficiency is a product of various deficits, regardless of the diseases that cause them and other factors. The assessment of the functioning status allows for focusing of activities on diagnostic and therapeutic ones and is a platform for agreement between the parties involved in geriatric care.

Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the functional efficiency of geriatric patients under long-term care.

Material and method. The research was carried out in a group of 518 elderly people receiving long-term care. The age of the respondents was in the range of 65-92 years old. The research was carried out using the NOSGER scale (Nurses’ Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients). This scale allows to quickly and easily assess the psychological, mental and social condition of the patient.

Results. When assessing with the NOSGER scale, the average result was 80.64 points. Among the component areas, the largest deficits were reported in the field of instrumental activities of everyday life (mean 17.41 points), and the best score was in the area of disruptive behaviors (mean 8.67 points).

Conclusions. The studied group of geriatric patients was characterized by a reduced level of functional fitness. The greatest deficits were found in the basic activities of everyday life. Education significantly differentiated the functional efficiency of the surveyed seniors.

Keywords: functional fitness, the elderly, the NOSGER scale.