Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
2nd International Medicine Nursing Congress , İzmir, Türkiye, 17 - 19 Aralık 2020, cilt.6, ss.145
Introduction: Fragility is common in older individuals and can cause functional impairment. This study was
carried out to examine the level of fragility and the relationship between fragility and functional disability in
elderly hospitalized individuals.
Materials and Methods: The descriptive study was conducted with 231 patients receiving treatment in the
internal clinics of a university hospital. The research data were collected using the Patient Information Form,
Edmonton Fragility Scale, Katz's Daily Living Activities Index (ADL) and Lawton and Brody's Instrumental
Daily Living Activities Index (IADL).
Results: 55.4% of the patients participating in the study are women, 93.1% are 65-85 years old, 65.4% are
married, 54.5% are housewives, 46.8% are illiterate and 38.1% are receiving treatment in the cardiology clinic.
The fragility scale average of 19.9% of the patients was found to be 7.24 ± 3.54. It was determined that 86.6% of
the patients were independent in ADL and 56.3% were independent in IADL. When sociodemographic
characteristics and scale mean scores are examined; It was determined that the fragility scale scores of women
and those aged 86 and above were higher, and the scores of ADL and IADL were lower. The fragility scale
scores of patients receiving treatment in the nephrology service were higher and the scores of IADL were lower.
Conclusion: It has been determined that patients who are fragile are more functionally dependent. Functional
independence is both a factor of fragility and a consequence. Increased function losses with aging reduce the
quality of life of individuals and prepare the ground for the formation of fragility. For this reason, nurses should
evaluate the fragile individuals as a whole, and enable possible diagnoses such as functional impairment early
and provide care for them.
Key words: Elderly individual, functional state, fragility