Construção e validação do índice de envelhecimento ativo para o contexto brasileiro

Abstract

The development of the Active Aging Index can contribute to expanding and understanding key issues about active aging for Brazilian elderly, as well as the measurement of contributing factors to active and healthy aging. The general objective of the research was to build and validate the Active Aging Index among elderly Brazilians, and specifically, to define in indicators the aspects encompassed by the conceptual model of active aging; assess face and content validity, terminology and the need for active aging indicators; evaluate the usefulness and usability of active aging indicators; build the Active Aging Index based on approved indicators; to test the Active Aging Index in the elderly population of the Health Microregion of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methodological research, with steps based on the development process of the Agency For Healthcare Research And Quality, consisting of: identification of candidate indicators, carried out through the structural model of active aging and the WHO Active aging policy with the involvement of specialists; evaluation of candidate indicators with initial specification of candidate indicators, review panel, empirical analysis; construction of the active aging index through the aggregation of final indicators; index test in the elderly population of the Health Microregion of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, opinion n° 4,597,973. Data were analyzed by median and Content Validity Index. 32 indicators of active aging were constructed. Of these, 26 were considered appropriate, necessary, with valid content, adequate terminology to compose the Brazilian Active Aging Index. All were evaluated as useful for measuring active aging in the elderly and applicable in public reports and geographic areas. The Brazilian Active Aging Index was composed of 26 indicators based on the theoretical framework of the World Health Organization, distributed in six domains with equal weights, namely, behavioral, personal, economic, social, physical environment, social and health services. The Active Aging Index of the Health Microregion of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil was calculated, the determinants, physical and social environment reached a higher score, behavioral and personal, a lower contribution.