Browsing by Author "Henriques, Joana"
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- Active aging awareness and well-being among older adults in PortugalPublication . Costa, Andreia; Henriques, Joana; Alarcão, Violeta; Henriques, Maria Adriana; Madeira, Teresa; Virgolino, Ana; Sousa, Joana; Santos, Rodrigo Feiteira; Arriaga, Miguel; Rocha, Jorge; Nogueira, PauloObjective: This study aims to assess the active aging awareness of older adults in mainland Portugal and their levels of overall well-being and to identify social and health-related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 613 older adults, aged 65 or older, who participated in the PROKnos – Knowing Social Prescribing needs of the elderly study in Portugal. The questionnaire consisted of the Active Ageing Awareness Questionnaire and the World Health Organization – Five Well-Being Index, as well as sociodemographic, economic, and health status questions. Correlation coefficients, t-tests for independent samples, and one-way ANOVA were used to explore potential associations between variables. Results: The active aging awareness levels were significantly higher for women (p = 0.031), and those who were younger (p = 0.011), more educated (p < 0.001), had a better financial situation (p < 0.001), and had better health (p < 0.001). The same pattern was found for well-being, except in relation to gender, as men had higher levels (p = 0.016). These variables were found to be correlated. Discussion: Even though active aging is an important strategy to implement, it is indispensable to consider the perceptions and conditions that need to be in place before that. This study reveals that several social and health-related factors are associated with well-being and active aging awareness, as well as the differences between groups that exist in mainland Portugal in relation to that. This emphasizes how vital it is to address social inequalities in active aging efforts, which are not necessarily uncovered when only considering actual active aging measures.
- Baropodografia ComputorizadaPublication . Henriques, Moisés Santos; Henriques, Joana; Jacinto, Jorge
- Social prescribing for older adults in mainland Portugal: Perceptions and future prospectsPublication . Costa, Andreia; Henriques, Joana; Alarcão, Violeta; Madeira, Teresa; Virgolino, Ana; Henriques , Adriana; Santos, Rodrigo Feiteira; Polley, Marie; Arriaga, Miguel; Nogueira, PauloBackground: In order to address health inequalities, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and promote older adults' quality of life, it is necessary to explore non-medical approaches such as social prescribing. Social prescribing is a person-centered approach that allows health professionals to refer patients to services provided by the social and community sectors. This study aimed to explore older adults' perceptions of social prescribing in mainland Portugal and to identify factors associated with these perceptions, providing insights for future implementation strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 613 older adults aged 65 to 93. Participants' sociodemographic, economic, and health characteristics were assessed, along with their perceptions of social prescribing's benefits and activity interest. Results: Over 75% of respondents agreed that social prescribing would benefit the health system and their community. Most participants (87.7% and 89.7%, respectively) thought that activities like personal protection and development activities and cultural enrichment would be particularly relevant to them. Factors such as marital status, education, health status, and pain/discomfort levels influenced the perceived relevance of these activities. Conclusion: This study reveals that older adults in mainland Portugal are open to social prescribing and suggests that tailored interventions considering individual preferences and characteristics can lead to more effective implementation and equal access to social prescribing. Further research and policy efforts should focus on integrating social prescribing into the healthcare system to support healthy aging in Portugal.