[The detection of factors predictive of the abandonment of disabled patients in a basic health area].
OBJECTIVE



OBJECTIVE
to elaborate a Persons at Risk Index (PRI) for the abandonment of elderly handicapped.


OBJECTIVE
to discover the profile of these invalids and their carers within our Health District.


METHODS
A case-control study. A uni- and multi-variant analysis (multiple logistic regression).


METHODS
An urban Health Centre. Programme for the Care of the handicapped Patient.


METHODS
1. Handicapped patients (those unable to attend the Health Centre for care) who were included in the Programme in December 1991 (Total = 177). 2. Carers (those with direct responsibility in caring for the sick). 106 handicapped patients were interviewed (33 took part in the pilot study, 13 died, 1 entered hospital, 16 refused to answer and 8 were not located). 20 patients (19%) were identified as being abandoned invalids, with abandon being defined as not having their need for help in their daily activities covered. The other 86 (81%) were considered as controls.


RESULTS
Profile of the handicapped patient: woman > 76 years old, illiterate, housewife, widow. Profile of career: woman, daughter or wife of the invalid, between 50 and 65, house-wife, uneducated. The variables selected by the multiple model as being linked to abandonment show greater risk for invalid patients living in zones of high social risk, who lack a specific career or have only been looked after by their present career for a brief period.


CONCLUSIONS
The PRI is an instrument which serves for predicting those invalids most likely to be abandoned, an undesirable situation to be avoided by prioritizing health service interventions.
Muñoz Cobos
F
F
Centro de Salud El Palo, Málaga.
Burgos Varo
M L
ML
Rogero Anaya
P
P
García España
F
F
D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003151:Community Health Centers; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016079:Refusal to Treat / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Detección de factores predictores de abandono de pacientes incapacitados de una zona básica de salud.