Formação sobre envelhecimento humano e percepção das tecnologias de informação e comunicação como uma forma de reabilitação do sujeito idoso

Abstract

We investigated the education of a group of future physiotherapy professionals about human aging and its perception about the information and communication technologies as a way of rehabilitation of the elderly. The studyisanalytical-transverse of population nature, with quantitative and qualitative perspective. The sample was compound by 165 academics of six Physiotherapy courses who took the National Student Proficiency Exam in 2007. The data collection was accomplished by applying a semi-structured questionnaire containing 36 open and closed questions. The data were analyzed by the statistical package SPSS for Windows 18 and Statistica 6.0 for a 5% (p ≤ 0,05) significance level. The open questions were grouped in about four categories. We testified that the academics have a restricted education about human aging and information and communication technologies, but on the other hand, they believe that this technology can bring great benefits for the quality of the physical and psychological life of the elderly, such as an improvement of the cognitive and social relations. We believe that this study can contribute in the discussion of the curriculum and the education of the physiotherapy academics, once this degree is directly related to the efficiency and quality on the services provided to the elderly population, allowing reframing the vision of the elderly and their new and important role in the society