Browsing by Author "Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi"
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- Functional Capacity Among Brazilian Older Adults 12 Months After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional StudyPublication . Souza, Flávia Cristina Sierra de; Laranjeira, Carlos; Salci, Maria Aparecida; Höring, Carla Franciele; Góes, Herbert Leopoldo de Freitas; Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi; Moura, Débora; Meireles, Viviani Camboin; Prado, Maria Fernanda; Betiolli, Susanne Elero; Alcaraz, Jesús Puente; Fernandes, Carlos Alexandre Molena; Carreira, LígiaBackground/Objectives: Evidence suggests that older adults who survived COVID-19 were exposed to greater functional dependence in their daily living activities. This study aims to examine the prevalence of functional dependence and associated factors among Brazilian older people with functional dependence 12 months after COVID-19 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving people aged 60 years or older in the state of Paraná, Brazil. One year after notification or hospital discharge due to COVID-19, between June 2021 and March 2022, participants responded to a questionnaire via telephone call about sociodemographic data and data on functionality using the Measure of Functional Independence (FIM). The outcome variable “assessment of functional capacity” was divided into functional dependence (FIM Total < 104) and functional independence (FIM Total ≥ 104). Results: A total of 768 older adults participated, with an average age of 68.03 ± 6.8 years (range between 60 and 100). A majority of them were female (50.3%), white (46%), with low education (37.4%), had a partner (56.3%), did not live alone (72.4%), and had their own home (52.2%). The prevalence of functional dependence was 7.2%. On average, participants scored 5.4 points lower on FIM one year after COVID-19 infection compared with those in the acute phase of COVID-19 (125.5 vs. 120.1; p < 0.001). Functional dependence was higher (p < 0.05) among women when compared to men (aOR = 2.28); in people who changed their work situation due to COVID-19 when compared to those with no change (aOR = 5.27); in people with fair/poor/bad self-reported health compared to those with excellent/good health (aOR = 2.97); in people with cardiovascular symptoms compared to those without cardiovascular symptoms (aOR = 3.37); and among the most severe cases of the disease (treatment in ICU) compared to mild cases (outpatient treatment) (aOR = 10.5). Conclusions: Most participants presented functional independence 12 months after COVID-19 infection. Cases of functional dependence were influenced by multidimensional factors, including physical health, economic, and psychosocial aspects.
- Living With Persistent Respiratory Symptoms of Long COVID: Qualitative Study Among Brazilian Adults 12 Months After Acute InfectionPublication . Santos, Giovana Alves; Laranjeira, Carlos; Carreira, Lígia; Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi; Tostes, Maria Fernanda do Prado; Meireles, Viviani Camboin; Ageno, Rosella Santoro; Salci, Maria AparecidaIntroduction: The majority of those infected with COVID‐19 undergo a brief duration of clinical illness. In certain instances,symptoms endure for months or years after the initial viral exposure—a condition characterized as Long COVID (LC). Theexperience of this illness remains largely unexplored as it has only recently surfaced. This study aims to understand therepercussions of persistent respiratory post‐COVID symptoms in Brazilian adults 12 months after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.Methods: A constructivist grounded theory study was employed. Data were collected through individual interviews with adultswith persistent respiratory symptoms of Long COVID in Brazil. Data collection took place between September 2023 andFebruary 2024. Data analysis was performed on a constant comparative basis and concurrent with data collection to understandthe findings.Results: Twenty‐four individuals (12 females, 12 males) with a median age of 43.29 ± 9.09 years participated. The data analysisgenerated a central category—living with the long‐term effects of COVID‐19: breathlessness pervades everything—aroundwhich three categories emerged: (1) imbalance between life before and after being infected by COVID‐19; (2) living with acutepost‐COVID respiratory symptoms; and (3) struggling with persistent post‐COVID respiratory symptoms.Conclusion: Our analysis of the perceived needs of individuals with Long COVID underscores the urgent necessity forlegislative reform to acknowledge LC as a disability that requires clear diagnostic criteria. Approaches to treatment andrehabilitation are required to evaluate the extent to which functioning and disability improve. Lastly, this study highlights thecomplex problems encountered by individuals with Long COVID, including employment uncertainties, everyday tasks andsocial relationships.
- Loss and Grief Among Bereaved Family Members During COVID-19 in Brazil: A Grounded Theory AnalysisPublication . Lima, Paola Kallyanna Guarneri Carvalho de; Laranjeira, Carlos; Carreira, Lígia; Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi; Meireles, Viviani Camboin; Baccon, Wanessa Cristina; Dias, Lashayane Eohanne; Ali, Amira Mohammed; Mello, Fernanda Fontes; Tostes, Maria Fernanda do Prado; Salci, Maria AparecidaThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countless losses around the world, profoundly affecting the lives of many people, especially those who faced the death of family members, bringing several negative repercussions to these families and constraining the experience of grief. This study aimed to understand the experience of loss and grief among bereaved individuals who lost family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study was guided by Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory as a methodological framework. The study adhered to the Criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. Data collection took place between May and November 2023 through telephone interviews that were audio-recorded and later transcribed in full. The purposive sample consisted of 21 bereaved family members who had lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were mainly female (n = 16) with a mean age of 55.5 (SD = 16.2). The loss of their family members occurred 12 to 24 months before data collection. The following central phenomenon was identified through the analytical process: “Family experience of loss and grief: between the unspoken goodbye and post-loss adjustment”. This was anchored in the following three categories: (1) Anguish and fear of the unknown; (2) Death by COVID-19—communication of death and lack of goodbyes; and (3) (Re)construction of meaning—support networks and the grieving process. Our findings recommend that policymakers allocate additional resources to grief support services to better prepare for future pandemic events. Furthermore, it is necessary to invest in the implementation of relevant training programs for healthcare professionals, with a family centered approach.
- Meanings and Experiences of Prisoners and Family Members Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Brazilian Prison Unit: A Grounded Theory AnalysisPublication . Baccon, Wanessa Cristina; Salci, Maria Aparecida; Carreira, Lígia; Gallo, Adriana Martins; Marques, Francielle Renata Danielli Martins; Paiano, Marcelle; Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi; LARANJEIRA, C.Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic represented a health emergency for prisons. This study sought to understand the meanings and experiences through the narratives of prisoners and family members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of a maximum-security state penitentiary complex in southern Brazil. For this purpose, a qualitative study was developed based on the methodological framework of constructivist grounded theory. Data were collected between February and August 2022 through individual in-depth interviews and field notes. The sample consisted of 41 participants: 28 male prisoners, and 13 family members. Guided by the Charmaz method of grounded theory analysis, the study afforded the core category “Feeling trapped in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic” with three interrelated phases: “Triggering”, “Escalating”, and “Readjustment”. The “Triggering” phase refers to COVID-19-related elements or events that triggered certain reactions, processes, or changes in prison. During the “Escalating” phase, participants became overwhelmed by the suffering caused by incarceration and the pandemic crisis. The “Readjustment” phase involved adapting, reorienting, or reformulating previous approaches or strategies for dealing with a specific situation. Prisons faced complex challenges during the pandemic and were forced to prioritize protecting public health. However, the measures adopted must be carefully evaluated, ensuring their needs and that they are based on scientific evidence. The punitive approach can undermine inmate trust in prison authorities, making it difficult to report symptoms and adhere to preventive measures. © 2023 by the authors.