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Molenaar EALM1, Barten D1, te Velde S1, Veenhof C1,2
1Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Research Group Innovation of Human Movement Care, Research Centre for Healthy and Sustainable Living, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science & Sports, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
Background: Recently, the view on health has been renewed. Nowadays, health is seen as human's ability to adapt and to self-manage, in the face of social, physical and emotional challenges. 'Self-sufficiency' is the prime concept in this view on health. As limitations in physical functioning initiate restrictions in daily life activities, the physical component of self-sufficiency deserves attention. This exceeds the physical domain and also influences related domains. Therefore, to describe Physical Self-Sufficiency (PSS) we should include the patient's social participation and self-management abilities as well. Furthermore, PSS should be seen as a personal characteristic rather than a disease-specific characteristic; i.e. patients suffering from the same disease can have different levels of PSS. Maintaining PSS is an important challenge to both elderly and professionals. To enable professionals to focus their treatment on a patient's PSS, a clear definition of PSS including a related comprehensive model to assess PSS is needed. However, to date there is no clear definition of PSS.
Purpose: To define physical self-sufficiency in community dwelling elderly and to develop a related comprehensive model.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted to develop a widely supported definition of PSS. The databases Pubmed/Medline, Psychinfo and CINAHL were searched for articles that described a physical component of self-sufficiency. The extracted data was thematically sorted and a preliminary definition of PSS was formulated. This definition was proposed to experts (n=7), in the field of physical therapy, to add a clinical view. In addition, these experts developed a comprehensive model of PSS based on the extracted data and the final definition. Subsequently, the definition and comprehensive model were discussed by an interprofessional online focusgroup (n=15) to ensure clinical relevance for daily practice.
Results: In total, 2153 abstracts were identified of which 23 were included. Most articles were excluded because the studies focused on a single concept and not the combination of a physical component and self-sufficiency. Based on those articles, PSS seems to be concerned with physical capacity but also social participation and psychological functioning. Participants of the expert meeting and the interprofessional focusgroup additionally mentioned a safety-component with respect to PSS. Thus, PSS was defined as “Functioning physically safely and independent from another person, within one's own context”. The comprehensive model of PSS comprised physical capacity combined with coping, empowerment and health literacy. Moreover, the level of PSS is influenced by someone's own context, including their home environment, social environment and neighborhood.
Conclusion(s): This scoping review resulted in an interprofessionally supported definition of PSS and a holistic comprehensive model. Although PSS is primarily characterized by physical related aspects, someone's level of social and psychological functioning determines PSS as well.
Implications: A clear and widely accepted definition of PSS will help both elderly and professionals to monitor PSS in the society and evaluate interventions promoting PSS. Future research should address the operationalization of PSS.
Keywords: Physical self-sufficiency, Patient centered care, Inter-professional collaboration
Funding acknowledgements: This project is funded by the PhD scholarship from the University of Applies Sciences Utrecht.
Purpose: To define physical self-sufficiency in community dwelling elderly and to develop a related comprehensive model.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted to develop a widely supported definition of PSS. The databases Pubmed/Medline, Psychinfo and CINAHL were searched for articles that described a physical component of self-sufficiency. The extracted data was thematically sorted and a preliminary definition of PSS was formulated. This definition was proposed to experts (n=7), in the field of physical therapy, to add a clinical view. In addition, these experts developed a comprehensive model of PSS based on the extracted data and the final definition. Subsequently, the definition and comprehensive model were discussed by an interprofessional online focusgroup (n=15) to ensure clinical relevance for daily practice.
Results: In total, 2153 abstracts were identified of which 23 were included. Most articles were excluded because the studies focused on a single concept and not the combination of a physical component and self-sufficiency. Based on those articles, PSS seems to be concerned with physical capacity but also social participation and psychological functioning. Participants of the expert meeting and the interprofessional focusgroup additionally mentioned a safety-component with respect to PSS. Thus, PSS was defined as “Functioning physically safely and independent from another person, within one's own context”. The comprehensive model of PSS comprised physical capacity combined with coping, empowerment and health literacy. Moreover, the level of PSS is influenced by someone's own context, including their home environment, social environment and neighborhood.
Conclusion(s): This scoping review resulted in an interprofessionally supported definition of PSS and a holistic comprehensive model. Although PSS is primarily characterized by physical related aspects, someone's level of social and psychological functioning determines PSS as well.
Implications: A clear and widely accepted definition of PSS will help both elderly and professionals to monitor PSS in the society and evaluate interventions promoting PSS. Future research should address the operationalization of PSS.
Keywords: Physical self-sufficiency, Patient centered care, Inter-professional collaboration
Funding acknowledgements: This project is funded by the PhD scholarship from the University of Applies Sciences Utrecht.
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing; Older people; Professional practice: other
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: NA
Ethics committee: NA
Reason not required: A scoping review was conducted to develop a widely supported definition. The research does not concern subjects being physically involved in the research.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
