ABSTRACT
Fundamentos: El progresivo envejecimiento de la población ha dado lugar a que muchas familias deban hacerse cargo del cuidado de algunos de sus miembros con incapacidad. Esta nueva situación implica cambios en la situación familiar y en especial en el cuidador principal que puede ver afectada su salud. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la morbilidad sentida y diagnostica de los cuidadores principales del paciente inmovilizado, así como identificar sus necesidades de salud. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal. El grupo de estudio está formado por los cuidadores de personas inmovilizadas incluidos en el programa de atención domiciliaria de un Centro de Salud rural. Por muestreo aleatorio simple se extrajo una muestra de 50 cuidadores, para un nivel de confianza del 95 por ciento y una precisión del 6 por ciento. Se realizó una entrevista personal al cuidador y una revisión de su historia clínica en Atención Primaria. Resultados: Entre los cuidadores existe un predominio de mujeres, con una edad media de 60 años, casadas, estudios primarios, hijas del paciente y convivientes con él más de 6 meses al año. La morbilidad sentida más frecuentemente fueron los problemas osteoarticulares (67,9 por ciento). Un 28 por ciento (IC 95 por ciento: 16,2-42,5) presentan malestar psíquico relacionado con la ansiedad y un 32 por ciento (IC 95 por ciento: 19,5-46,7) relacionado con la depresión. El número de problemas en relación al esfuerzo referidos por los cuidadores fue de 72 y los reflejados en la historia clínica fueron 10, el resto de problemas reflejados no tiene relación con el esfuerzo. Conclusiones: El perfil del cuidador encontrado no difiere del de otros estudios. Padece pluripatologia (síntomas físicos y psíquicos), tiene una baja frecuentación al médico y su morbilidad sentida está infradiagnosticada (AU)
Bacground: The progressive aging of the population has led to many families having to take charge of caring for some disabled family member. This new situation involved changes in the family situation, especially in that of the main caregiver, whose health may be affected. The objective of this study is to ascertain the morbility perceived and diagnosed regarding the main caregivers of disabled patients and to detect their health needs. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. The group under study was comprised of the caregivers of immobilized patients registered in the homecare program of a rural Healthcare Center. A sample of 50 caregivers was taken by simple random sampling, with a 95% confidence level and a 6% accuracy. The caregivers in question were surveyed personally and their Primary Care Clinical Record was reviewed. Results: The caregivers in question were predominantly females averaging 60 years of age, married, having an elementary school education, the daughters of the patients, having lived with the patient for more than 6 months a year. The morbility perceived most often were bone and joint problems (67.9%). Twenty-eight percent (28%) (IC 95%: - 16.2-42.5) showed psychological uneasiness with anxiety, 32% (IC 95%: - 19.5-46.7) related to depression. The number of stress-related problems reported by the caregivers totaled 72, a total of 10 being shown in their Clinical Record, none of the other problems in their Records being related to stress. Conclusions: The caregiver profile does not differ from other studies. Caregivers have multiple disorders (physical and psychological symptoms), go to see their physicians little, and their perceived morbility is underdiagnosed (AU)
Subject(s)
Middle Aged , Male , Female , Humans , Caregivers , Morbidity , Home Care Services , Sex Factors , Rural Population , Spain , Sampling Studies , Time Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Cross-Sectional Studies , Age Factors , ImmobilizationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The progressive aging of the population has led to many families having to take charge of caring for some disabled family member. This new situation involved changes in the family situation, especially in that of the main caregiver, whose health may be affected. The objective of this study is to ascertain the morbility perceived and diagnosed regarding the main caregivers of disabled patients and to detect their health needs. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study. The group under study was comprised of the caregivers of immobilized patients registered in the homecare program of a rural Healthcare Center. A sample of 50 caregivers was taken by simple random sampling, with a 95% confidence level and a 6% accuracy. The caregivers in question were surveyed personally and their Primary Care Clinical Record was reviewed. RESULTS: The caregivers in question were predominantly females averaging 60 years of age, married, having an elementary school education, the daughters of the patients, having lived with the patient for more than 6 months a year. The morbility perceived most often were bone and joint problems (67.9%). Twenty-eight percent (28%) (IC 95%:--16.2-42.5) showed psychological uneasiness with anxiety, 32% (IC 95%:--19.5-46.7) related to depression. The number of stress-related problems reported by the caregivers totaled 72, a total of 10 being shown in their Clinical Record, none of the other problems in their Records being related to stress. CONCLUSIONS: The caregiver profile does not differ from other studies. Caregivers have multiple disorders (physical and psychological symptoms), go to see their physicians little, and their perceived morbility is underdiagnosed.
