Subjective cognitive decline in elderly patients: integrative review of qualitative studies

Author(s)

Aldair Weber

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
• Defense date: 2019-12-05

Examining board members

André Fattori; Paulo Dalgalarrondo; Ricardo Riyoiti Uchida

• Advisor: André Fattori

Abstract

Background: Understanding the subjective perception of early signs of the aging process, such as memory loss, should support health care. Objectives: To conduct an integrative review of original articles with a qualitative approach on the subjective complaint of memory loss. Objective: To synthesize qualitative evidence on how older people process and experience the process of memory loss. Method: A broad search strategy with free and indexed terms was built. The literature survey was performed in twelve databases and also in the gray literature (theses, journals, dissertations). This is an integrative review of qualitative primary studies whose database search stage includes PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, ProQuest Central, Bireme / VHL, Scielo, AgeLine, PsycInfo , APA, Psicodoc, CRD York and Clinical Trials in addition to Capes Journal Portal, Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations and Open Thesis as gray literature. The inclusion criteria established were the presentation in the title or abstract of one of the search terms, be an original article or systematic review and describe in the methodology the qualitative approach used. Results: 10083 records were identified. Duplicate tracking through EndNote software and manual verification led to a total of 5187 articles. The main author of this paper submitted this total of articles to Rayyan QCR software and made the final selection of original articles or systematic review by reading the title and abstract. At this stage, the works with the authors' keywords of interest totaled 76 articles that were submitted to the methodological quality assessment instrument of the Joanna Briggs Institute. After this stage, 10 articles were included in the study. The results were organized into the following categories: 1) the search for care and care; 2) difficulties in the routine practices of those who have a subjective complaint of memory loss and 3) psychological difficulties and coping mechanisms. Conclusion: The use of the integrative review tool to explore this research object allowed us to search for various data and refine them later. From the material found, it was possible to identify the subjective complaint of memory loss as something associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depression or as a sign that this individual will be diagnosed with a dementia process. It is recognized the importance of seeking formal help, the existence of care spaces and a new reorganization of daily practices in the face of forgetfulness (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/03459-8 - Reports of professors with subjective complaints of mild cognitive decline (MCI) and normal objective examination that have sought psychiatric care in a university memory care program: a clinical-qualitative study
• Grantee: Aldair Weber
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master