Support and training of family caregivers: nursing intervention program

Introduction: With an aging population and improvements in health care, there is an increase in the number of dependents who require more support to meet their needs. Family caregivers (FC) are essential to guarantee continuity of care, even though it is an exhausting process with consequences for t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Melo, Ricardo (author)
Other Authors: Rua, Marília (author), Santos, Célia (author)
Format: article
Language:eng
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10400.19/4823
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorio.ipv.pt:10400.19/4823
Description
Summary:Introduction: With an aging population and improvements in health care, there is an increase in the number of dependents who require more support to meet their needs. Family caregivers (FC) are essential to guarantee continuity of care, even though it is an exhausting process with consequences for their health. A properly structured nursing intervention program (NIP) is shown to be important in this context. Objective: To develop and implement a NIP to support and train the FC of dependent people. Methods: An integrative literature review (ILR) was conducted to identify the main caregiver needs. Afterwards, a NIP was structured in the areas of emotional and instrumental support. It was then validated by experts in the field using the Delphi technique. This was implemented and evaluated, using a quasi-experimental study, with a pre and post intervention evaluation. Results: From the ILR, 21 articles were stood out for highlighting the main needs manifested by FC. Through the Delphi technique an NIP was obtained with 93 nursing interventions. Its implementation led to a general improvement in the FC’s state of health, a reduction of the overload manifested and a greater use of coping strategies. Conclusion: Structured and contextualized nursing interventions, directed to supporting and empowering FC, facilitate the transition to this role with an impact on their health and the care provided.