Perceived health in the Portuguese population aged ? 35

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the exploratory relationship between determinants of health, life satisfaction, locus of control, attitudes and behaviors and health related quality of life in an adult population.METHODSObservational study (analytical and cross-sectional) with a quantitative methodological basis. The sample was composed oy 1,214 inhabitants aged ≥ 35 in 31 civil parishes in the County of Coimbra, Portugal, 2011-2012. An anonymous and voluntary health survey was conducted, which collected the following information: demographic, clinical record, health and lifestyle behaviors; health related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study, Short Form-36); health locus of control; survey of health attitudes and behavior, and quality of life index. Pearson’s Linear Correlation, t-Student, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney; One-way ANOVA; Brown-Forsythe’s F; Kruskal-Wallis; Multiple Comparisons: Tukey (HSD), Games-Howell and Conover were used in the statistical analysis.RESULTSHealth related quality of life was shown to be lower in females, in older age groups, in obese/overweight individuals, widows, unassisted, those living alone, living in rural/suburban areas, those who did not work and with a medium-low socioeconomic level. Respondents with poor/very poor self-perceived health (p < 0.0001), with chronic disease (p < 0.0001), who consumed < 3 meals per day (p ≤ 0.01), who were sedentary, who slept ≤ 6 h/day and had smoked for several years revealed the worst health results. Health related quality of life was positively related with a bigger internal locus, with better health attitudes and behaviors (physical exercise, health and nutritional care, length of dependence) and with different areas of life satisfaction.CONCLUSIONSBetter health related quality of life was associated with certain social, psychological, family and health characteristics, a satisfactory lifestyle, better socioeconomic conditions and a good internal locus of control over health attitudes and behaviors.

Inquérito epidemiológico em saúde bucal e fatores psicossociais em idosos – um estudo piloto

“…Deve-se investir na promoção da saúde junto às populações para reduzir os efeitos de determinados fatores responsáveis por sua morbidade e mortalidade, assim como para evitar doença e promover saúde [23].…”

Factors associated with self-perceived health status in Portugal: Results from the National Health Survey 2014

“…Portugal is recording one of the highest rates of poor perceived health in Europe ( 6 ); it is, therefore, crucial to define the factors that can affect self-perceived health status in Portugal and to which degree it may translate into real health inequalities. Previous studies in Portugal that assessed predictors of self-perceived health status used data limited to specific geographic areas ( 7 , 8 ), population groups, such as adolescents ( 9 , 10 ), elderly ( 11 ), or patients with morbidities ( 12 , 13 ), or, if using national data, limited the analysis to socio-demographics and chronic diseases ( 14 ). However, there is evidence that other factors may play an important role in shaping self-perceived health, such as mental health ( 15 , 16 ), social support ( 17 , 18 ), satisfaction with life ( 16 , 19 ), healthcare use ( 20 ), functional ability ( 21 , 22 ) and lifestyle factors ( 23 , 24 ).…”