Comparison of the amount of nursing and caregiving at home for cancer patients and for patients with cerebrovascular disease

• Published in: Nihon kōshū eisei zasshi Vol. 48; no. 3; p. 169
• Main Authors: Taketani, H, Hoshiyama, Y, Kawaguchi, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01-03-2001
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cerebrovascular Disorders - nursing; Female; Home Care Services; Home Nursing; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - nursing
• ISSN: 0546-1766

This study was carried out to qualify and quantify the amount of care estimated to be needed by the nurse and home-helper, the amount actually being given and the amount demanded by patient with cancer or cerebrovascular disease under condition of nursing and caregiving at home.
Fifty-five patients with cancer and fifty-five with cerebrovascular disease registered at Visiting Care Stations in Aichi, Nagano and Tokyo, under nursing services of visiting workers dispatched by the respective station during the test period, were studied. A survey was conducted from September-December 1998 for cancer patients and from January-May 1999 for cerebrovascular disease patients. During the same periods, surveys of visiting nurses and home-helpers were conducted on the kinds and amount of service actually given and estimated to be needed, with questionnaire completed using a self-entry system. Addition of surveys was conducted with a visiting nurse's home-interviewing system. Items surveyed were sex, age, stage of disease, services given by family members and/or by visiting nursers and home-helpers, and the mean person-hours for each service.
1. The amount of excess burden placed on the families of patients with cerebrovascular disease was significantly greater than with cancer patients (P < 0.01, rank sum test). 2. Demands on nurses by cancer patient families were greater than those on home-helpers (P < 0.01, rank sum test), for daily attendant care, counseling and guidance, and coordination. 3. Demands from families of cerebrovascular disease patients on home-helper were greater than those on nurse, for daily attendant care, assistance in medical treatment, and counseling and guidance.