Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
Abstract
Background: Today, an increasing number of family members assume a great responsibility for
taking care of a dependent person at home. Nurses must prepare the family caregiver for this
transition—to be a caregiver, by providing the best solution for each case. Taking care of a
dependent person is not an easy task; it involves cognitive and instrumental skills to perform this
role.
Aim: We intend to study the types and frequencies of nursing diagnosis related to the family
caregiver, documented in the Nursing Information System (NIS) in use, in a District Hospital in
Portugal.
Method: The data were extracted from the Nursing Information System to a new database, and,
after codification, we analyzed the nursing diagnosis related to the family caregiver. ICNP ®
(International Classification for Nursing Practice) was used as referential terminology in data
analysis.
Findings: The analysis shows that more than 40% of patients admitted with nursing diagnosis are
related to the family caregiver, even in readmissions cases. These nursing diagnoses are centered
on the prevention of patient’s complications, such as pressure ulcer, replacement in self-care
activities, i.e., feeding, optimization of the family caregiver role, and in the promotion of the
therapeutic regimen management. The major skills that we found in diagnosis related to the family
caregiver were associated with knowledge acquisition.
Conclusion: We conclude that, in many readmissions cases, family caregivers continue to have
many weaknesses, specifically related to their level of knowledge and skills learning. This finding
opens a window of opportunity to develop solutions that will help these families take care of a
dependent person at home, including web-based solutions that can be a tool to promote the
continuity of care.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
