[Chronic patients confined to home and their impact on the family: a qualitative study].
OBJECTIVE
To describe and assess the social and psychic overload which falls on those who care for chronically ill patients confined to their homes.


METHODS
Qualitative study, with semi-structured interviews. SITE: Primary care in the public sector, in an urban context.


METHODS
Those caring for the chronically ill, confined to their homes, and who are included in the home care programme of a General Medicine office.


METHODS
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.


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%.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Puig
C
C
Equipo CESCA, Madrid.
Hernández-Monsalve
L M
LM
Gérvas
J J
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D011593:Psychology, Social; D013030:Spain
Los enfermos crónicos recluidos en el domicilio y su repercusión en la familia: una investigación cualitativa.