CONCEPTIONS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH HYPERTENSION AND/OR DIABETES ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to understand the quality of life concepts in elderly people who suffers from arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. It is a descriptive and exploratory study with qualitative approach, the data collection strategy was Focus Group Interviews. The software QDA Miner was used for qualitative data analysis and the Content Analysis Method proposed by Bardin was used for data interpretation. The data had disclosed two categories: ‘concepts of quality of life’, pointing to the elements that go through the understanding that the elderly have of the quality of life, and ‘relation between quality of life andchronic illness’ - how the experience of chronic disease is associated with quality of life. Data had indicated that the quality of life concepts in this population are related to the way they live with the chronic illness. The subjective factors are very important concerning the elderly people life with the chronic illness, mainly their psychological and social resources, that help them to fight the negative effects of chronic illness conditions in the quality of life.

Keywords:
Quality of life; chronic diseases; aging