Percepções sobre o envelhecimento: perspectiva de discentes e docentes da área da saúde

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify the perceptions of students and teachers about aspects of aging. METHODS: Epidemiological, descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study. Participated 187 subjects, being 38 teachers and 149 students from eight health courses at a public university in the state of Sergipe. It used a Sociodemographic questionnaire and the Self-Perception Questionnaire of Aging (QAPE), start for a multidimensional natural questionnaire that verifies the perception of aging from dimensions involving aging characteristics (identity, chronology, consequences, control and emotional representations). RESULTS: Of the 187 interviewees, 79.67% were students and 20.33% were teachers. Regarding the QAPE, can be identified the average within the expected scores, where higher scores indicate a greater support of perception, with the exception of the negative control subscale that is scored inversely, which means a good perception of aging by the teachers and students. CONCLUSIONS: Since the perception about aging is a good predictor of healthy aging, it can be concluded that the participants presented a good perception about aspects of aging. In addition, they have demonstrated knowledge of Brazilian legislation protecting the rights of the elderly, which will provide a better theoretical basis for care and attention, as well as the specific skills to use actions and strategies that meet this age range.