Learning Needs and Quality Care Among Family Caregivers and Elderly Patients of Guadalupe, Cebu City, Central Philippines

Abstract

This study assessed the learning needs of the family caregivers based on knowledge, skills, attitude and values (KSAV), their quality of care services and the elderly patients' assessment on the quality of the provided care. The study utilised a descriptive-normative method employing survey research design utilizing a randomized cluster sampling technique. Primary data were collected using a standardised modified interview guide. Face-toface interviews were carried out to family caregivers and elderly patients in Guadalupe Village, Cebu City, Central Philippines. Findings revealed that caregiving jobs are mostly handled by women. Likewise, there were more female than male elderly patients, almost three-fourths of them attained high school or lower level education. Family caregivers' possessed very good attitude and values. They were also good in terms of knowledge and skills toward the care of elderly patients. Similarly, elderly patients view their caregivers to be very good in attitude and values and good in terms of knowledge and skills. In conclusion, the learning needs among family care givers dealt more on understanding the nature, medical conditions, medication administration, caregiving techniques, diet and nutrition, ambulation techniques and strategies, financial supports from peers and total care management of the elderly patients. The provision of these learning needs anchored on the knowledge, skills, attitude and values ensures the caregivers from experiencing depressions, desperations, and self-isolation.

Transitional care to caregivers of dependent older people: an integrative literature review

“…Half the sample were literature reviews with scientific methodology (21)(22)(23)(24)(25) . The primary studies had qualitative (2,12,26) , quantitative (9) , and quali-quantitative approaches (11) . Interpreting the information found in these sources allowed to answer the research question, despite the differences between them, including the different methodologies they applied.…”

“…The selected articles were published from 2016 to 2019 [2016 (1S), 2017 (4S), 2018 (5S)]. There was a marked geographic disparity in study distribution: three studies were Australian (9,21,26) , three were Brazilian (11,(22)(23) , two were carried out in the United Kingdom (12,25) , one in Portugal (24) , and one in Philippines (2) . Analysis of the articles' content allowed to group the needs of caregivers into five categories: needs related to the transition into the role of caregiver; caregivers' self-care needs; health needs; economic needs; and social and community needs.…”

“…Regarding information in the transition into the role of caregiver, it is imperative that caregivers acquire new knowledge and skills (2,9,(11)(12)21,(23)(24)(25)(26) related to self-care and care provided at home (11,23) , so they can play their role with autonomy and safety and carry…”

“…out activities of daily living, namely mobilization, transfer, bed bath, shower bath, dressing dependent people, diaper change, and precautions related to medication administration (2,11) . S2 showed that learning needs were related to understanding the nature of the disease and the medical condition itself, which encompassed medication administration, techniques to provide care, diet and nutrition, walking techniques and strategies, knowledge regarding financial support, and the global management of care (2) .…”

“…At present, 55% of dependent older people show severe functional impairment, which requires the aid of a caregiver to support them in self-care and the execution of activities of daily living (2) . The dependence of these older people leads to some difficulties for caregivers, namely: the need for care, financial problems, changes in social life and resulting relationship issues, lack of family support, poor reaction to care, and lack of social resources (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) . Studies have shown that this new role has negative consequences such as anxiety, stress, exhaustion (1) , higher levels of depression, overload related to care, and lower levels of subjective well-being and perceived health (3) .…”