CAREGIVER LEARNING NEEDS AND REACTIONS TO MANAGING HOME MECHANICAL VENTILATION

Objective: To identify caregivers' learning needs and reactions to pro viding care for adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the home. This report originated from a study that was undertaken to desc ribe family function and reactions of family members. Design: Prospect ive, descriptive. Setting: Data collected at clients' homes in a midwe stern city. Subjects: Twenty caregivers and adult patients who are dep endent on mechanical ventilation at home. Instruments: Patients and th eir caregivers completed family coping and family function instruments . Caregivers also completed a Learning Needs Checklist and a caregivin g inventory. Results: The results indicate that caregivers, all relati ves, provided an average of 7.3 hours per day direct care with little assistance from extended family or professionals. More disrupted sched ules, financial strain, increased burden, and negative reaction to car egiving was associated with increasing ventilator hours per day. Famil y function was perceived as satisfactory by both patients and caregive rs. Survival knowledge and skills were being taught, but additional in formation was needed by caregivers. There were no differences by gende r in perceived learning needs, family function, or tasks of daily care giving.Conclusions: Preferences for types of information suggest the u se of a three-phase teaching program that should be sensitive to indiv idual learning needs. A variety of coping strategies were used by fami lies to manage home mechanical ventilation including problem-solving a nd mobilizing help from friends, extended family, community, or church .