Abstract

HERRERA TRAVIESO, Delia Mercedes et al. Characterization of informal care of dependent patients at the polyclinic "Héroes de Girón" in 2009. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.2, pp. 28-44. ISSN 0864-2125.

Introduction: with an aging population and increased survival of patients with chronic diseases and disabilities, the number of people needing care not only increases, but also the provision of services increases in demand. Objective: to characterize the informal care of dependent patients at the polyclinic "Héroes de Girón", in 2009. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study. We used a survey including the caregiver burden interview. The sample consisted of 42 caregivers of dependent patients at the polyclinic "Héroes de Girón", Cerro municipality; they correspond to the total of informal caregivers in the health area at the time of this study. Results: most of the dependent patients 30 (71.43 %) and caregivers 35 (83.33 %) were females, out of them 18 (42.86 %) were wives, the average age is 52 years, 17 (40.48 %) were housewives and 29 (69.05 %) devoted more than 12 hours a day to this care. The overload was present in 22 caregivers (52.38 %). Conclusions: less than half of caregivers presented overload; most of them were women aged 60 and over. They were housewives, daughters, or wives. They devoted more than 12 hours a day to this care. Over 90 % have not participated in any educational program.

Keywords : dependent patient; caregiver; caregiver burden.

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