APPROACH TOWARDS CHRONIC ILL PATIENTS ? THE FAMILY’S PERSPECTIVE

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and co-morbidities, the essential attributes of the patient and family approach of care, are still to be defined in terms of disease-specific approaches. Effective improvements in family-based approach will require alternative ways of thinking about chronic care design and practice. Objectives: The study was designed with the objectives of assessing the approach of the family members towards chronic disease persons in their family. Methodology: The study was conducted as a community based cross sectional study during November and December 2013, in a nearby village among the families affected from any of the chronic disease. The study participants were selected randomly from the community and they were interviewed using a preformed pretested questionnaire after getting the informed consent. The questionnaire includes general information about the family and the person affected from the chronic disease, money spent, duration of disease, approach of the family members towards the diseased person. The data were analyzed using EPI-INFO software version 3.5.1. Results: A total of 105 persons were interviewed, among whom 44 (41.9%) were suffered from Diabetes Mellitus, 14 (13.3%) were having Hypertension, tuberculosis 9 (8.6%), Osteoarthritis 8 (7.6%) and the remaining had co-morbid chronic diseases. Among the family members 82 (78.1%) had satisfactory attitude towards the diseased persons. Around 52 (49.5%) ignore the diseased persons for celebrations, 35 (33.3%) ignore them for decision making, 23 (21.9%) gave a separate room and 18 (17.1%) felt that treatment expenditure as waste of money. As far as the knowledge, attitude and practice were concerned, attitude and practice were associated (p < 0.05) with lesser age group and nuclear family using chi-square test. Conclusion: Our study had concluded that the overall approach and knowledge, attitude and practice of the family members towards the chronic illness patients in their family was not satisfactory.