Characterization of familial caregivers' in relation to the knowledge about hydrocephalus

THESES/TESES

Characterization of familial caregivers' in relation to the knowledge about hydrocephalus (abstract)^*. Dissertation. Aracaju, 2009.

Débora Moura da Paixão Oliveira^**

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus is a disease frequently mentioned in literature, but the caregivers' knowledge about the disease is not well assessed.

PURPOSE: To characterize the caregivers of hydrocephalus patients; identify the fonts of formation to assume activities how to care; to verify caregivers' knowledge about hydrocephalus; to relate the caregiver' knowledge and level of child complications.

METHOD: Descriptive, exploratory and quantitative study, using a standardized interview technique. The survey was performed with caregivers at Aracaju University Hospital between November 2007 and August 2008.

RESULTS: Fifty-four caregivers answered the interview. The mean age was 27.3±7 years, with absolute predominance of females. There was a positive correlation on the number that they had left to work to be caregivers. Twenty-five caregivers (46.3%) received information about how to care and 53.7% learned to take care by themselves. The education level of the caregiver had a significant effect on the knowledge about definition, causes, complications, surgery and the shunt objectives. The knowledge about complications and surgery was significantly bigger in caregivers of children with sequels (p=0.003).

CONCLUSION: The caregivers received little professional information. The education level of the caregiver had a positive correlation to on increased knowledge. Caregivers of children with sequels were related to on increased knowledge about important aspects on hydrocephalus.

Key words: hydrocephalus, caregiver, family, child.

*

Caracterização do cuidador familiar em relação ao conhecimento sobre hidrocefalia (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado. Universidade Federal de Sergipe, UFS (Área Ciências da Saúde). Orientador: Carlos Umberto Pereira

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  13 Oct 2009
• Date of issue
  Sept 2009