[Home care for the diabetic within the limits of project--object: pilot project integrated into the health education of the diabetic. Veneto Region].
Twenty one district-nurses working in 13 districts were handed a questionnaire (one questionnaire for each patient), to collect data on nursing interventions and main problems of the 382 diabetic patients cared for. The diabetic patients are a very demanding population with a mean age of 78 years; 314 (82%) have a comorbidity, 272 (71%) severe limits on their physical functioning and 233 (61%) the diabetic foot; 183 patients (47%) are not capable of taking autonomous decisions. The nursing interventions for these patients are both technical (drawing blood samples, diagnostic exams) and educational on how to manage and monitor self-administration of insulin (31 patients, 10%), on self monitoring techniques (116 patients, 30%), on alimentation in general and change in food habits (289 patients, 94.1%). The role of the nurse in promoting patients' independence and in preventing complications is highlighted.
Collareda
G
G
Gomitolo
O
O
Pellizzari
G
G
Corradin
H
H
Erle
G
G
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000451:nursing*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016526:Workload