[The needs of mothers of children affected by skin diseases].
OBJECTIVE
The needs assessment of mothers with children affected by dermatitis is as crucial as technical interventions. The child's disease may modify mothers' priorities of needs. Aim of the study is to identify priority of needs in mothers of children admitted to a dermatological hospital (IDI-IRCSS) in Rome. Data were collected between May and June 2007. The Needs Assessment Questionnaire and the Patient Global Assessment (PGA) were distributed to 160 mothers to assess the perceived severity of the disease.


RESULTS
The main needs were to receive more information about diagnosis (59%), more care after discharge (48%), more information about treatments (36%) a better symptoms control (36%) and to receive informational material (33%). Mothers who perceived very severe the illness of their children expressed an higher need to receive more care after discharge (63%) and a better symptoms control (56%) compared to those with lower severity scores. The need of information about diagnosis is the first priority irrespective of the perceived severity of the illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Information and education are crucial to involve mothers in the caring process. Nurses can improve critical areas of dermatological care through identification of needs.
Uras
Claudia
C
Loboratorio di Ricerca sui Servizi Sanitari, IDI-IRCCS, Roma.
Andreoli
Elisabetta
E
Alfani
Stefania
S
Tabolli
Stefano
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012871:Skin Diseases; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires