Cigdem Canbolat Seyman, PhD, RN, Research Assistant, Department of Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Yasemin Sara, MSc, RN, Research Assistant, Department of Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.
Orthop Nurs. 2021;40(6):375-382. doi: 10.1097/NOR.0000000000000785.
Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by decreased daily living activity, weight loss, weakness, and dependency caused by the cumulative decline in many physiological systems over the life span. This study examined older adults' perceptions of frailty. The study used a descriptive qualitative design. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 14 older adults admitted to the geriatrics outpatient clinic in one Turkish institution from September to December 2019. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the MAXQDA data analysis software. Codes were combined into themes. The respondents were aged 74.5 ± 8.7 years. Two themes emerged from the qualitative data: (i) the conceptualization of frailty; and (ii) coping with frailty. Some of the participants self-identified as frail, a natural consequence of aging. Another group of participants emphasized the feelings of hopelessness and hopefulness in coping with frailty in their remaining lives. This study provides insights into older Turkish adults' opinions regarding frailty, including the development of frailty and its relationship with health status and daily life. This understanding may be used to detect frailty in older adults and to improve frail older adults' care interventions.
衰弱是一种老年综合征，其特征是日常生活活动减少、体重减轻、虚弱和依赖，这是由于一生中许多生理系统的累积衰退所致。本研究调查了老年人对衰弱的看法。该研究采用描述性定性设计。数据采集方法为：2019 年 9 月至 12 月，在土耳其一家机构的老年门诊，对 14 名老年患者进行半结构式访谈。访谈转录后，使用 MAXQDA 数据分析软件进行分析。代码被合并为主题。受访者的年龄为 74.5±8.7 岁。从定性数据中得出两个主题：（i）衰弱的概念化；（ii）应对衰弱。一些参与者自我认定为虚弱，这是衰老的自然结果。另一组参与者强调了在剩余的生命中应对衰弱时的绝望感和希望感。本研究深入了解了土耳其老年人对衰弱的看法，包括衰弱的发展及其与健康状况和日常生活的关系。这种理解可用于检测老年人的衰弱情况，并改善虚弱老年人的护理干预措施。
