Leader: Maria Francesca Freda (UNINA); Other collaborator(s):
Promoting healthy ageing, in the context of chronic conditions, implies implementing interventions aimed at improving personal views of aging, enhancing motivation for self-care and improving collaborative attitudes towards and with healthcare services.
This task aims to develop and evaluate an innovative and combined intervention in primary care to promote motivation for self-care and adaptation to chronic illness across the life course. The intervention designs actions targeted to 1) promoting changes in the adoption of health behaviors; 2) improving self-care in chronic conditions; c) fostering positive personal views of ageing in the context of chronic illness.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
A literature search was conducted on the constructs of motivation and self-care in the context of aging, consulting databases such as Medline, PubMed, and PsycINFO. The analysis aims to address the following research questions: 1) How is motivation delineated in the aging process? 2) How is self-care conceptualized in the aging process? 3) Is there a relationship between the two constructs, and how does this relationship manifest in aging?
The results highlighted a plurality of epistemological frameworks used for understanding these theoretical constructs, which the authors organize into three main trajectories: 1) Motivation as a process in healthy aging; 2) Self-care as a health and autonomy resource; 3) Recursiveness between motivation and self-care in chronic illness.
A review titled Motivazione e cura di sé nell’invecchiamento: una revisione sistematica della letteratura (Lemmo, Bianco, Freda, in submission) has been submitted to Psicologia della Salute
A qualitative-quantitative study is underway aimed at exploring the motivational profiles of patients over 60 belonging to the clinics of the 1st level Departmental Program for motor rehabilitation and vertebral deformities of the AOU Federico II of Naples. Participants affected by (data collection began in March 2024) are prescribed a therapeutic change by prescribing FKT. On the basis of the profiles that emerge, different groups will be created for motivational interviewing interventions aimed at changing behavior and preventing the risk of falling.
Finalized the oral presentation for the Age-IT conference (scheduled in May 2024).
Finalized the oral presentation for the
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
- Creation of guidelines and development of good practices to promote motivation for self-care during life starting from primary care contexts. This implication could reduce hospital access and healthcare costs among older adults.
- Evidence to support motivational interviewing aimed at promoting engagement in healthy aging and self-care behaviors with health outcomes
- Creating a self-care motivational app to support healthy aging
- Evidence to support the creation of interventions aimed at awareness of age-related changes for a better process of adaptation to chronic disease
- Creation and application of innovative protocols of multidimensional interventions for health promotion and disease prevention
- A quantitative cross-sectional study is being conducted to examine the effects of self-perception of aging and illness representations on healthy behaviors in comorbidity conditions. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Psychological Research at the Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II. Preliminary data were collected from a sample of 60 Italian individuals, aged 60 and older, with non-communicable diseases recruited from primary care settings. Preliminary findings indicated that these psychological factors play a significant role in shaping health behaviors in older adults managing chronic illnesses.
The study was discussed at the General Meeting Age-it, held at Ca' Foscari University, San Giobbe Economic Campus, Venice, from May 20-22, 2024. The contribution was delivered during the session “Cohort studies: implications for clinical geriatric practice”. The preliminary findings were presented through an oral session at the 38th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS), which took place in Cascais, Portugal, from September 3-6, 2024. The presentation was delivered on September 5, 2024, in the session “Chronic conditions: Prevention and treatment adherence.” The study was presented in a poster at the XXIV National Congress of the Italian Association of Psychology (AIP) - Clinical and Dynamic Psychology Section, held in Salerno from September 12-15, 2024. A full manuscript detailing these preliminary results is currently in preparation.
- Data collection of qualitative-quantitative longitudinal study aimed at exploring the self-care change motivational profiles of patients over 60 belonging to the clinics of the 1st level Departmental Program for motor rehabilitation and vertebral deformities of the AOU Federico II of Naples. Participants affected by sarcopenia are prescribed a therapeutic change by prescribing FKT. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Psychological Research at the Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II. The preliminary results about qualitative data analysis were presented at 1) the General Meeting Age-it, held at Ca' Foscari University, San Giobbe Economic Campus, Venice, from May 20-22, 2024 and 2) in a Symposium about the use of narrative in medical settings at the XXIV National Congress of the Italian Association of Psychology (AIP) - Clinical and Dynamic Psychology Section, held in Salerno from September 12-15, 2024.
- Data collection of a research-intervention aimed at identifying the motivational profiles of subjects over 60 years old with one or more chronic diseases who are prescribed Adapted Physical Activity (AFA) programs and supporting the motivational process with motivational interviewing in order to promote well-being and prevent health risks.
- Accepted systematic review on motivation and self-care in older adults
- Completed participation as co-author in writing a paper on the use case of the patient with comorbidity
- Writing of an article on the qualitative study aimed at exploring engagement in digital self-care in older adults with hypertension. The preliminary data of the study were presented at the International Conference AHL (Active and Healthy Living) held from 13 to 15 November 2023 at the University of Naples Federico II - Scampia Complex, entitled "Digital solutions at scale for an active and healthy lifestyle: implementation between scientific disciplines, industrial sectors and implementation scenario…
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
- A study exploring Views of Aging and Illness Representations in relation to health behaviors in the context of aging with osteoarthritis is ongoing. Specifically, the study aims to examine the effects of Awareness of Age-Related Change, Illness representations, and Illness cognition on patients’ engagement in self-care behaviorsand motivation to adhere to prescribed rehabilitative physical activities. Data collection is in progress, with participants being recruited at the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at AOU Federico II of Naples. Insights from this study could help improve motivation and long-term adherence to rehabilitation programs, ultimately supporting better disease management in older adults with osteoarthritis.
- A study on the application of Motivational Interviewing in the oncology setting, aimed at enhancing motivation for physical activity and adherence to an adapted exercise program, is ongoing. Recruitment and intervention administration are taking place at the Breast Surgery Unit at AOU Federico II, and data collection is in progress.
- A full manuscript presenting findings from the cross-sectional study on the role of personal Views of aging and Illness Representations in Self-care Maintenance among patients with non-communicable diseases has been submitted to a scientific journal and is currently under peer review.
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
The findings can contribute to the growing literature on psychological determinants of self-care and can inform innovative clinical interventions for aging individuals with chronic illnesses. Understanding how psychological factors shape health behaviors in older adults provides valuable insights for public health policies aimed at enhancing self-care practices, rehabilitation adherence, and preventive care. Additionally, these findings could guide the development of digital health solutions designed to reinforce and sustain long-term motivation for self-care and engagement in health-promoting behaviors throughout the aging process.
- A study exploring Views of Aging and Illness Representations in relation to health behaviors in the context of aging with osteoarthritis is ongoing. Specifically, the study aims to examine the effects of Awareness of Age-Related Change, Illness representations, and Illness cognition on patients’ engagement in self-care behaviors and motivation to adhere to prescribed rehabilitative physical activities. Data collection is in progress, with participants being recruited at the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at AOU Federico II of Naples. Insights from this study could help improve motivation and long-term adherence to rehabilitation programs, ultimately supporting better disease management in older adults with osteoarthritis.
- A study evaluating the efficacy of Motivational Interviewing in fostering physical activity adherence among oncology patients is currently underway. Recruitment and intervention administration are taking place at the Breast Surgery Unit at AOU Federico II, and data collection is in progress.
- A full manuscript presenting findings from the cross-sectional study on the role of personal Views of aging and Illness Representations in Self-care Maintenance among patients with non-communicable diseases has been submitted to a scientific journal and is currently under peer review.