Perception of Family Members Regarding Psychological Needs of Immobilized Patients

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction:Family members play a vital role in providing care to their patient. They are the only one who will be with the patient every time than physicians and nurses. Care giving is a difficult job and many care givers show psychological stress and declaim in physical and mental health.Methods and material:A quantitative descriptive survey study was undertaken to assess the perception of family members regarding psychological needs of immobilized patients admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Dehradun. Total 147 study participants were selected by purposive sampling technique and data was collected by using a structured questionnaire. Result:Result showsthat majority (70.74%) of the participants were between 18–37 years. Almost three-fourth (71.40%) of the participants were males, half (50.34%) of participants had higher secondary education, almost two-third (60.54%) of participants belonged to nuclear family, less than half (44.22%) participants were having children relationship with patient, more than half (53.06%) participants were working in a service sector, more than half (56.47%) participants were having monthly income more than 10000 and approximate one-third (39.46%) participants were having previous experience of hospitalization. Through structured questionnaire I found that majority (63.8%) of family members think that by building self-confidence is the measure they will use to improve the psychological wellbeing of their patient, approximately one-third (37.6%) family members think that by winning the confidence is the way which will ventilate their patient’s internal feelings, less than half (43.0%) family members think that by spending more time with patient will reduce the feeling of stress, two-third (67.8%) family members perceived that finance is the circumstances that make the patient sad, half (50.3%) of family members think that by listening him/her carefully is the way to make the harmonious relationship with their patients and 40.3% family members think that by involving the patient in spiritual practices will help to  reduce their anxiety level. Conclusion: Study concludes that if health care professionals can collaborate and identify the physiological needs which are perceived by family members who are taking care of patient in hospital can improve the quality of care which really a patient needs to recover fast.

Keywords:Family members, immobilized patient, psychological needs