scholarly journals The conception of selected Technology Assessment method and the possibilities of TS application

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 234-242
Author(s):  
Andrzej Wieczorek

Abstract The article addresses the problem of population aging and the related problem of using and maintenance of technical means by the older persons. Such persons, as participants of the exploitation process, experience various problems. Therefore, the challenge is to adapt technical means to the needs of older people. The response of engineers to this challenge may be the technology assessment, which assumes the adoption of various achievements in the field of philosophy, sociology, psychology or other social sciences as tools for their work. The proposal for such a solution is presented in the article and it is an indicator that allows you to draw conclusions about the real needs of older people. The effect of calculations with its use is the Wi characterization in the function of the human age. This characteristic complements the characteristics obtained on the basis of empirical data about the behavior of a technical mean. The article also presents the possibilities of using the discussed indicator. These include: improving the quality of life of users of technical means at various ages through rational management of company resources, improving the quality of life of users through user-centered design, exclusion from exploitation by the elderly technical means/their components based on social technology assessment, analysis and optimization of needs people of different ages, modeling the movement of older people, elimination of social exclusion of older people, improving the quality of life of people of all ages through appropriate knowledge management.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy Louise -Onoria ◽  
Raymond Odokonyero ◽  
Bruno Giordani ◽  
Dickens Akena ◽  
Emmanuel Mwesiga ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Uganda’s population, though, largely characterized by young people, has seen the number of people aged 60 and over grow from 686,000 twenty years ago, to 1,433,596 in 2014. Effective caring for the well-being of this population requires strategic and deliberate planning that involves quality of life (QoL) assessments. QoL assessments among the elderly are important in evaluating the efficacy of strategies, such as health interventions, welfare programs, health care, and well-being of the elderly. However, elderly in Uganda face several challenges, ranging from loneliness, poor housing, lack of social and financial support, and poor health. These may negatively affect older persons’ quality of life and consequently their perceptions and attitudes towards aging. Methods: The study was carried out in 2019 in the communities of Nansana and Busukuma town councils in Wakiso district, Uganda. The participants were 380 people 60 years and older. To establish the association between perceptions of ageing and QoL, this study utilized a locally adapted version of the Older Person’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) and the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ). The OPQOL assesses three domains of QoL: Health QoL (HQoL); Social economic QoL (SQoL); and Psychosocial QoL (PQoL). The B-APQ assesses perceptions about physical age, participation in social activities, and perceptions about ability to regulate emotions as one ages. Pearson’s Chi-square tests were used to characterize the relationship between the perceptions and quality of life.Results: The majority of the respondents, 61% (95%CI 56.7-64.8), had negative perceptions towards ageing. Eighty six percent had poor HQoL, 90% poor SQoL and 83% poor PQoL. There was a significant association between good HQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 7.3670, P = 0.007) as well as with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 18.1803, P<0.001). There was a significant association between good SQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 5.3472, P = 0.021), as well with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 10.5128, P<0.001). A significant association between good PQoL and positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 9.2414, P= 0.002).Conclusion: Positive perceptions of ageing are associated with good QoL. Directly addressing perceptions of ageing could be a low cost and effective strategy to improve the QoL of older persons in SSA


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-49
Author(s):  
E. A. Kechyna ◽  
L. V. Filinskaya

The demographic aging of population typical for many countries requires much more financial and material resources to meet the needs of the post-working-age population. For the Republic of Belarus, the problem of population aging is highly relevant for the share of the elderly grows annually. The article focuses on the social-demographic characteristics and quality of life of the older generation in Belarus. The article is based on the data of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus and the results of the sociological research “Belarus: Family, Stability of Family Relations, and Birth Rate in the Changing Social-Economic Conditions” conducted within the international research program “Generation and Gender”. The authors present a sociological-statistical approach to the analysis of the key characteristics of the elderly’s life in contemporary Belarus, which combines the information resources of sociology and statistics. The authors consider the general statistical data on the population aging and the elderly’s features and the sociological indicators revealing the perception of life at the older age. The assessment of the older generation’s life is presented as a set of indicators of the quality of life, which includes both objective statistical data and estimates of the older people’s satisfaction with various aspects of their life. For the first time in Belarus the quality of life of the 60-69- and 70-79-year-old cohorts is studied not only through statistical data but also taking into account their own assessments of various aspects of their lives, which allows to identify the most relevant issues for the social programs aimed at meeting the needs of the older generation.


Author(s):  
Encarnación Ramírez ◽  
Ana R. Ortega ◽  
Rafael Martos

In the last decades there has been increased the study of the psychological strengths as factor that concerns the well-being. They are considered as a subset of features of personality to which a moral value is added, being defined as natural qualities that the persons are intrinsically motivated to use as they increase the quality of life. The investigations demonstrate that they act as factors of protection and prevention of the psychopathology and of the problems of behavior in the different stages of life. There are strengths that are more relevant in older people and their training would try to influence the behavior and the emotional functioning to increase the satisfaction with the life. In the present work we analyze the strengths that predominate in older and we propose a program of intervention to promote the improve their health and quality of life. This is a new proposal because, until now, interventions in this area have been aimed at palliate various problems or as a complement to traditional therapy but not to prevent the onset of common disorders in the elderly.


Retos ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. 126-129
Author(s):  
Francisco Salinas Martínez ◽  
Armando Cocca ◽  
Kamal Mohamed ◽  
Jesús Viciana Ramírez

Realizamos un análisis del estado actual de las personas mayores en relación con la actividad física y el sedentarismo, éste último aspecto convertido en la actualidad como una de las principales fuentes de amenaza para la salud pública de los países europeos y americanos. Damos a conocer los efectos negativos de la inactividad física sobre los parámetros cardiovasculares, diabetes, depresión y cáncer, entre otros. Mostramos los beneficios de la actividad física (herramienta clave para solucionar los problemas propios del sedentarismo) para la salud de este colectivo de la población; al tiempo que estudiamos las razones por las que las personas mayores acuden a los programas de actividad física. Finalmente, aportamos una serie de conclusiones.Palabras clave: Actividad Física. Calidad de Vida. Personas mayores. Salud. Sedentarismo.Abstract: We analyzed the current status of the elderly in relation to physical activity and sedentary, the latter now become a major source of threat to public health in the European and American countries. We report the negative effects of physical inactivity on cardiovascular parameters, diabetes, depression and cancer, among others. We show the benefits of physical activity (a key tool to solve the problems of the sedentary lifestyle) for the health of this group of the population while we study the reasons why older people attend physical activity programs. Finally, we provide a number of conclusions. Keywords: Physical Activity. Quality of Life. Elderly. Health. Sedentary.


Author(s):  
Thaís Mello de Souza ◽  
Luiz Faustino dos Santos Maia

Desde os anos sessenta do século passado, a expressão qualidade de vida tem sido referência de inúmeros discursos acadêmicos, políticos, ideológicos. A preocupação com a saúde do idoso vem promovendo a implantação de políticas públicas de saúde, visando cada vez mais melhoria da qualidade de vida. O envelhecimento populacional é um fenômeno que diz respeito a todos, não ficando circunscrito apenas aos cidadãos maiores de 60 anos. Portanto esta pesquisa através de uma revisão literária objetivou levar ao conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde a cerca da saúde do idoso e as políticas públicas de saúde para este segmento etário. Os resultados mostrou que os profissionais de saúde têm uma grande importância para a melhoria, implementação e execução das políticas públicas de saúde.Descritores: Qualidade de Vida, Saúde do Idoso, Envelhecimento. Health of the aged one, the aging and the public politics of healthAbstractSince the sixties of last century, the term quality of life has been a benchmark for many academic discourses, political, ideological. The concern with the health of the aged one comes promoting the implantation of public politics of health, aiming at each time more improvement of the quality of life. The population aging is a phenomenon that says respect to all, not being circumscribed only to the citizens biggest of 60 years. Therefore this research through a literature review aimed to inform health professionals about the health of the elderly and public health policies for this age group. The results showed that health professionals are of great importance for the improvement, implementation and enforcement of public health policies.OuvirDescriptors:Quality of Life, Health of the Aged one, Aging. Salud Del anciano, el envejecimiento y las politicas publica de saludResumenDesde los años sesenta del siglo pasado, el término calidad de vida ha sido un referente para muchos discursos académicos, políticos, ideológicos. La preocupación por la salud de las personas de edad ha estado promoviendo el despliegue de políticas de salud pública, en busca de mayor calidad y mejores de vida mejor. El envejecimiento poblacional es un fenómeno que concierne a todos, no limitándose sólo a los ciudadanos mayores de 60 años. Por tanto, esta investigación a través de una revisión de la literatura destinada a informar a los profesionales de salud acerca de la salud de las personas mayores y las politicas publicas de salud para este grupo de edad. Los resultados mostraron que los profesionales de la salud son de gran importancia para el mejoramiento, aplicación y ejecución de políticas de salud pública.Descriptores: Calidad de Vida, Salud del Adulto Mayor, Envejecimiento.


2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-70
Author(s):  
Lucinei Paz Torquato ◽  
Debora Berger Schmidt

Introduction: For the year 2050, the estimate is to have more than two billion people over the age of 60 worldwide. This projection of population aging highlights the importance of assessing the oral health of the elderly and, consequently, highlighting the role of public policies and the dental surgeon in health promotion in this context. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to approach the main oral changes that occur in the elderly and the importance given to this by public policies. Discussion: The literature emphasizes the national health policy of the elderly and the duty of the professional to promote the quality of life while preserving the autonomy and functional independence of the patient. Conclusion: Several public policies ensure the rights guaranteed to people aged 60 years or older regarding whole health care for the elderly. However, much needs to be done for them to benefit and have full access to this service. Therefore, it’s the dental surgeon’s responsibility to bring awareness to this reality and need.


Author(s):  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Xinjie Wei ◽  
Xueyao Ma ◽  
Zhihong Ren

Population aging has become a crucial problem in China. Recently, the Chinese government has adopted many strategies and policies to solve this problem and improve the quality of life of older individuals. The present study aimed to examine the effect of physical health on quality of life among older individuals in the context of Chinese culture and explore the potential mediating roles of positive cognition and negative emotions in the association between physical health and quality of life. Data were from the wave of 2017–2018 of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Data on physical health, quality of life, positive cognition, and negative emotions of 15,874 older people were included in the present study. Pathway analysis was conducted by using IBM SPSS AMOS 21.0, and double verified using PROCESS Macro for SPSS 3.5.3. Results showed that physical health was positively associated with quality of life among older individuals in the context of Chinese culture. The effect size was small to moderate. Positive cognition and negative emotions independently and serially mediated the linkage of physical health and quality of life. These findings provided empirical evidence for the activating event-belief-consequence theory of emotion and hierarchy of needs theory and indicated that Chinese older people focused more on physical health rather than mental health. Practitioners could teach older individuals strategies of emotion regulation and cognitive appraisal to improve the quality of life of older individuals.


Author(s):  
Encarnación Ramírez ◽  
Ana R. Ortega ◽  
Rafael Martos

In the last decades there has been increased the study of the psychological strengths as factor that concerns the well-being. They are considered as a subset of features of personality to which a moral value is added, being defined as natural qualities that the persons are intrinsically motivated to use as they increase the quality of life. The investigations demonstrate that they act as factors of protection and prevention of the psychopathology and of the problems of behavior in the different stages of life. There are strengths that are more relevant in older people and their training would try to influence the behavior and the emotional functioning to increase the satisfaction with the life. In the present work we analyze the strengths that predominate in older and we propose a program of intervention to promote the improve their health and quality of life. This is a new proposal because, until now, interventions in this area have been aimed at palliate various problems or as a complement to traditional therapy but not to prevent the onset of common disorders in the elderly.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Ahmed ◽  
Mayca Marín ◽  
Raquel Bouça-Macado ◽  
Daniella How ◽  
Elda Judica ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Dementias including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease profoundly impact the quality of life of older populations and their families. PROCare4Life is a European project that recognizes the benefit of technology-based integrated care models in improving the care coordination and the quality of life of these target groups. It proposes an integrated, scalable and interactive care platform targeting older people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, their caregivers, and health professionals. PROCare4Life adopts a User-Centered Design approach from the early stage and throughout the platform development and implementation, where the platform is designed and adapted to the needs and requirements of all the involved end-users. OBJECTIVE This paper presents the study protocol that will be used to investigate the end-user’s needs and requirements regarding the design of the proposed PROCare4Life solution. METHODS A mixed qualitative and quantitative study design is utilized, including interviews, workshops, and online surveys, involving approximately 200 participants: patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease and dementia, caregivers, socio-health professionals and stakeholders from different five European countries (Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain and Romania). RESULTS The results of the study which took place in the period May-August 2020, will be used to shape the large-scale piloting phase of the PROCare4Life project. CONCLUSIONS This paper charts the protocol for a user-centered design approach at the early stage of the project to shape and influence an integrated health solution suitable for its intended target group and purpose.


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