The physiotherapist’s performance in the domicile attendance of neurological patients: the effectiveness under the caretaker’s point of view - doi:10.5020/18061230.2005.p64

Abstract

Some neurological patients present functional kinesis alterations and disorders, which keeps them from performing their physical autonomy, reflecting in their psychological and social-economical structure. As a result, patients have several degrees of disability, which determine the level of dependence on the caretaker. This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the physical therapy on the clinical status of the neurological patient under the caretaker’s point of view and the family dynamics, in the home care process. A descriptive and comparative study was accomplished through the selection of neurological patients of both genders, adults or elderly, being 15 patients inhabitants of the Serrinha community and assisted by the Family Health Program (PSF) without the participation of a physical therapist and 16 assisted by the Home Care service of the Municipal Welfare Institute (IPM). The data were collected by means of a questionnaire filled out by the patients’ caretakers. It was observed that most caretakers were daughters and they had been taking care of the patients for over 10 years. The caretakers in the IPM group had guidance and more information about the disease, they were more satisfied and less tired of taking care of the patients than those from the PSF group. The patients in the group assisted by physical therapists frequently varied their time in bed and suffered less pain and paresthesia compared to the group which was not assisted. The results showed that the caretakers of the patients who had physical therapeutic assistance had a more optimistic view of the clinical condition and were more motivated to deal with these patients