OBJECTIVE: To describe and assess the social and psychic overload which falls on those who care for chronically ill patients confined to their homes. DESIGN: Qualitative study, with semi-structured interviews. SITE: Primary care in the public sector, in an urban context. PATIENTS OR OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: Those caring for the chronically ill, confined to their homes, and who are included in the home care programme of a General Medicine office. INTERVENTION: Semi-structured interview and analysis of the clinical history. Data were obtained concerning: 1. The general characteristics of the patient; 2. General characteristics of the carer; and 3. Social activities, family relationships and both physical and psychological health of the carers. MAIN RESULTS: 12 patients were studied. Two of these had no carer. In the remaining ten cases, the carer was a member of the immediate family. Only one carer was male. In 60% of cases the carer showed dysfunction in relation to the family. There were social repercussions in 70% of the cases and psychiatric morbidity in 50%. CONCLUSION: Care of the chronically ill patient confined to the home carries with it a serious social and psychological burden, which falls essentially on the wife or daughter.
OBJECTIVE: To describe and assess the social and psychic overload which falls on those who care for chronically ill patients confined to their homes. DESIGN: Qualitative study, with semi-structured interviews. SITE: Primary care in the public sector, in an urban context. PATIENTS OR OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: Those caring for the chronically ill, confined to their homes, and who are included in the home care programme of a General Medicine office. INTERVENTION: Semi-structured interview and analysis of the clinical history. Data were obtained concerning: 1. The general characteristics of the patient; 2. General characteristics of the carer; and 3. Social activities, family relationships and both physical and psychological health of the carers. MAIN RESULTS: 12 patients were studied. Two of these had no carer. In the remaining ten cases, the carer was a member of the immediate family. Only one carer was male. In 60% of cases the carer showed dysfunction in relation to the family. There were social repercussions in 70% of the cases and psychiatric morbidity in 50%. CONCLUSION: Care of the chronically ill patient confined to the home carries with it a serious social and psychological burden, which falls essentially on the wife or daughter.