Sarcopenia screening in elderly in primary health care: Nurse knowledge and practices

Abstract

Objective: Describe the knowledge and practices of the Primary Health Care nurse on sarcopenia screening in the elderly.

Methods: Qualitative study conducted with 24 Primary Health Care nurses. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, recorded and later transcribed. The speeches were grouped in thematic categories, later analyzed, supported by Paulo Freire's reference.

Results: The findings showed that the primary care nurses' knowledge of sarcopenia screening in the elderly was incipient and fragile. This reality is reflected in a gap in practice, although some instruments already require the registration of characteristics indicative of sarcopenia, such as the evaluation of the calf circumference.

Final considerations: The need to train nurses to perform sarcopenia screening and to implement a promotional and preventive care plan, which will result in improving the quality of life of the elderly assisted in Primary Care, was highlighted.