Abstract

SOUSA, Joana; SILVA, Abel  and  MARQUES, Paulo. Family member strategies to deal with confusional manifestations by the care recipient. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2011, vol.serIII, n.4, pp.59-67. ISSN 0874-0283.

This study was conducted with the following goals: to identify manifestations of acute confusion (AC) that patients have at home and to identify the strategies used by Family Caregivers (MFPCs) to deal with these manifestations. Accordingly, the work was divided into two parts: a) the first took place in the hospital setting, using a quantitative approach, and b) the second took place at home, based on a qualitative case study methodology. For identification of the sample, at the first stage the NEECHAM Confusion Scale (NCS) was administered to in-patients in a hospital setting, and one month after discharge follow-up of those who had acute confusion (AC) was carried out. It was found that only 17.3% of patients returned home. Of these, after assessment with the NCS, only those who still had confusion were selected for semi-structured interview of their MFPC in order to achieve the study goals. In the interviews, participants revealed three categories related to manifestations of confusion: 1) psychomotor; 2) orientation and 3) inappropriate social behaviour, and two related to strategies: a) non-pharmacological strategies, and 2) pharmacological strategies. Inability to act was also revealed in the interviews. Further studies are needed with larger samples to better understand the problem.

Keywords : confusion; caregivers.

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