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. 2022 Dec 1;7(6):e178.
doi: 10.1097/j.pbj.0000000000000178. eCollection 2022 Nov-Dec.

Concept of older person autonomy: phenomenological study of the opinion of specialist nurses

Andreia Maria Novo Lima  1 , Maria Manuela Ferreira da Silva Martins  2 , Maria Salomé Martins Ferreira  3 , Carla Sílvia Fernandes  2 , Soraia Dornelles Schoeller  4 , Adriana Raquel Neves Coelho  5 , Vítor Sérgio Oliveira Parola  5
Affiliations

Concept of older person autonomy: phenomenological study of the opinion of specialist nurses

Andreia Maria Novo Lima et al. Porto Biomed J. .

Abstract

Background: The concept of autonomy is composed of several components, making it a multidimensional concept. This includes cognitive ability, intellectual ability, emotional intelligence, social situation, and physical ability skills. This study aimed to describe the experiences attributed to the meaning of the concept of autonomy, by specialist nurses. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological study was carried out, according to the Giorgi method. Eighteen nurses were recruited at a hospital in Portugal. Data were collected through individual interviews. Results: The 18 specialist nurses work on average as nurses for 16years and are specialist nurses; for an average of 5.9years, most are specialist nurses in rehabilitation nursing. From the data analysis, six themes emerged: ability to do, ability to resolve, decision ability, cognitive ability, social integration, and emotional intelligence. Conclusions: Most professionals perceive the concept as the ability to perform activities of daily living and the ability to make decisions, especially concerning informed consent. It is necessary to raise awareness of the breadth of this concept since the quality of life and dignity of the elderly person depends on autonomy.

Keywords: aged; concept formation; nurses; personal autonomy; qualitative research.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual representation of the themes and subthemes based on the findings.
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