Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Rating of emotional aspects in caregivers of patients affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
|---|---|
| Name | Lanzi Laura |
| Supervisor(s) | Mussi Chiara |
| Academic Year | 2015/16 |
| Thesis type | Research thesis |
Abstract
Objective: the purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the needs of caregivers of patients
affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) during assistance.
Materials and Methods: the study was conducted on 20 caregivers of patients suffering from ALS pertaining to Dr. Jessica Mandrioli, at the Neurological Clinic of the Ospedale S. Agostino - Estense of Baggiovara. The data collection is realized through the administration of the questionnaire Caregiver Need Assessment (CNA), composed of 17 items and created to identify the needs related to the assistance perceived from the caregivers of patients with serious disability. The special mark sheet then allowed to be able to define a value to the level of need of each caregiver. Subsequently the results were statistically analyzed, splitting the group into two parts (before and after a year of diagnosis of disease).
Results: 50% of caregivers studied gave a generally high evaluation of their level of need, giving more importance to the need to cooperate and communicate with the health-care team compared to the emotional and social support. Moreover it was found a higher level of need in the caregiver group in the first year of diagnosis of the disease, than those who take care of ALS patients for more than a year of diagnosis.
Conclusions: the results obtained show the importance of the level of need expressed by caregivers of ALS patients, through which the nurses and all the health-care team understand what their problems are and how they can “ lighten up ” the burden of care of these family members.