Introduction
The modern healthcare sector is focused on the provision of care to all groups of patients, regardless of their age, race, culture, and gender. For this reason, with the growth in the number of older adults, the problem of the appropriate provision of care to this cohort acquires a special priority. Guo et al. (2017), in their article, consider self-care activities one of the best methods to guarantee a high quality of life for these patients.
They assume that with the transformation of society and the change of the family structure, there are numerous older people who live alone (Guo et al., 2017). That is why their ability to provide care to themselves is fundamental for the preservation of the appropriate health status. The offered article revolves around the two possible tools that can help to improve self-care practices.
Main body
The primary goal of the research is to compare the reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly (SASE) and the Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R) among the elderly population in China (Guo et al., 2017). The selection of this purpose is preconditioned by the fact that there is a stable population growth with the tendency towards its aging (Guo et al., 2017). For this reason, it is critical to acquire an improved understanding of what tools can be employed by caregivers to prevent the appearance and development of undesired effects or states among this group of clients.
The fundamental theoretical concept presented in the paper is the idea of self-care. Guo et al. (2017) state that the ability of individuals to care for themselves to maintain health and well-being is fundamental for modern nursing as it helps to improve the health of the nation. At the same time, the authors admit the variability of this idea because it becomes influenced by multiple factors such as age, literacy, level of development, life experiences, cultural background, and health status (Guo et a., 2017).
Additionally, the setting can also be one of the factors affecting patients and their capabilities. That is why the researchers also emphasize the significance of SASE and ASAS-R as tools that can be useful in promoting better self-care abilities and better outcomes (Guo et al., 2017). These concepts serve as the theoretical framework of the study.
To measure these concepts, the authors utilize a cross-sectional study design. They select 1152 older adults and acquire information by using a questionnaire, including SASE and ASAS-R (Guo et al., 2017). This paradigm is used to collect data that can prove the effectiveness of these tools and help to compare their ability to improve patients’ self-care practices. Analyzing their findings, the researchers conclude that there is no critical difference between the two selected approaches; however, SASE remains more suitable for adults as it is easier to understand and cultivate a better understanding of the discussed phenomenon.
Conclusion
In such a way, the results obtained in the study can be applied in practice regarding the self-care theory and its positive impact on the state of patients. The employment of the SASE tool can help to avoid adverse effects among the selected population group and guarantee that the health of the nation will be improved. The modern nursing practice presupposes working with clients from this group, and the paper offers essential information about how the outcomes of this cooperation can be improved.
Reference
Guo, L., Soderhamn, U., McCallum, J., Ding, X., Gao, H., Guo, Q., … Liu, Y. (2017). Testing and comparing two self-care-related instruments among older Chinese adults. PLOS One, 12(8), e0182792. Web.