title: Needs of the homebound morbidly obese patient: a descriptive survey of home health nurses.
abstract: The purpose of this descriptive survey was to identify challenges encountered by the home care provider when caring for a morbidly obese client in the home care setting and to provide recommendations to those involved in the transition of the patient from the acute care setting to the home. This descriptive study used a convenience sample of 25 RNs employed in one of the many referral home care agencies in the greater Los Angeles, California area. The referral home care agencies were selected randomly. Criterion for inclusion was that the nurse had cared for at least three patients in the past 12 months with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of > or = 40. A semi-structured interview was completed using a ten item survey tool which included open ended questions. One hundred percent of the subjects approached participated (N = 25). The home care setting was their primary place of employment for at least 2 years (mean 5 years), and each RN had cared for an average of 4 patients with a BMI of greater than 40 in the past years. Challenges expressed by the nurses in the home care setting include: equipment (n = 25), reimbursement (n = 25), access to resources (n = 18), client motivation (n = 8), and family/significant other support (n = 10).
authors.affiliation: Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, CA 91109-7013, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000451:nursing*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires