Intimate Partner Violence in Persons With Parkinson's Disease.

Recent studies have reported that older adults with cognitive or physical disabilities are at risk to suffer intimate partner violence. This article investigates the intimate partner violence among caregivers and persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). We used qualitative methods to investigate whether the presence of violence was related to the type of couple relationship before the disease onset. We used a survey, in-depth interviews, and focus groups in 20 dyads of caregivers and patients. Twelve (60%) persons with PD and nine (45%) caregivers reported receiving violence. Considering their relationships previous to disease onset, we describe three typologies of violence in PD: (a) disease and history of violence, (b) disease as a buffer of violence, and (c) the burden of disease as an inductor of violence. Previous relationships and the couple's biographical trajectories influence the types of violence and its nature. This study is relevant as it considers time as a crucial factor in both the violence and suffering of PD and its caregiving.

Estudio piloto en cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas, sobre el significado y conocimiento de cuidados paliativos / Estudo piloto em cuidadores de pacientes com enfermidades neurológicas, sobre o significado e conhecimento de cuidados paliativos / Pilot study with caregivers attending patients with neurologic diseases, about the meaning and knowledge of palliative care

Objetivo. Describir el significado que atribuyen cuidadores a los cuidados paliativos (CPS), así como su preferencia respecto a informar al paciente y su satisfacción con el papel de cuidador. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo transversal, muestra intencional de 40 cuidadores de enfermos neurológicos con necesidad de CPS. Se aplicó un cuestionario de conocimientos sobre el tema y sobrecarga. Se realizó análisis descriptivo-comparativo con un intervalo de confianza de 95 por ciento (p mayor 0.05). Resultados. Pacientes: 52,6 por ciento hombres, edad promedio de 57,9 por ciento años, tiempo de enfermedad: 5 años, 2 hijos en promedio. Cuidadores: 77,5 mujeres, 25,0 por ciento cónyuges. Edad promedio: 49.3 años, proporcionan 18,5 horas de cuidado diario, 62,5 por ciento tenía estudios de secundaria o superiores, 40 por ciento son cuidadores únicos, 16,7 por ciento no cuenta con redes de apoyo y 42,5 por ciento presenta sobrecarga alta. Un 70 por ciento no tenía información previa sobre CPS. Significado: 50 por ciento mencionó "dar ayuda" (física o emocional), 20 por ciento"mejorar la calidad de vida". El 87,5 por ciento desearía ser informado con detalle si ellos fueran los pacientes, 86,1 por ciento quisiera ser informado por el médico y 62,5 por ciento se mostró a favor de que se le informara con detalle a su familiar. Conclusiones. Es importante difundir los CPS en cuidadores y estimular el derecho de los pacientes a recibir información sobre el pronóstico de su enfermedad.

Aim. To describe the meaning attributed to palliative care (PC) by caregivers, as well as their preference with respect to informing the patient and their satisfaction in their caring role. Methodology: Study descriptive transversal, sample intended of 40 caregivers of neurologic patients needing PC. A questionnaire about knowledge of the topic and their burnout status was applied. A descriptive-comparative analysis was carried out with 95 percent (p higher 0.05) confidence interval. Results: Patients: 52.6 percent men, average age 57.9 years, duration of disease: 5 years, average of 2 children. Caregivers: 77.5 percent women, 25.0 percent married, average age: 49.3 years, daily caring 18.5 hours, 62.5 percent with high School or university studies, 40 percent alone as caregivers, 16.7 percent do not count with support nets and 42.5 percent present high burn out status. Of them 70 percent did not have previous information about PC. Meaning: 50 percent mentioned "to give help" (physical or emotional), 20 percent "to enhance quality of life". 87.5 percent would like to be informed with detail if they were the patients, 86.1 percent would like to be informed by the physician and 62.5 percent were in favor to inform with detail to their family member. Conclusions: It is important to disseminate PC to caregivers and to stimulate the right of patients to receive information about the prognosis of their disease.

Objetivo. Descrever o significado que atribuem cuidadores aos cuidados paliativos (CPS), assim como sua preferência com respeito a informar ao paciente e sua satisfação com o papel de cuidador. Metodologia. Estudo descritivo transversal, amostra intencional de 40 cuidadores de enfermos neurológicos com necessidade de CPS. Aplicou-se um questionário de conhecimentos sobre o tema e sobrecarga. Realizou-se análise descritivo-comparativa com um intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento (p superior 0.05). Resultados. Pacientes: 52,6 por cento homens, idade média de 57,9 anos, tempo de enfermidade: 5 anos, 2 filhos em média. Cuidadores: 77,5 por cento mulheres, 25,0 por cento cônjuges. Idade média: 49.3 anos, proporcionam 18,5 horas de cuidado diário, 62,5 por cento tinham estudos secundários ou superiores, 40 por cento são cuidadores únicos, 16,7 por cento não contam com redes de apoio e 42,5 por cento apresentam sobrecarga alta. 70 por cento não tinham informação prévia sobre CPS. Significado: 50 por cento mencionaram "dar ajuda" (física ou emocional), 20 por cento "melhorar a qualidade de vida". 87,5 por cento desejariam ser informados com detalhe se eles fossem pacientes, 86,1 por cento quiseram ser informados pelo médico e 62,5 por cento se mostraram a favor de que fossem informados com detalhes um seu familiar. Conclusões. É importante difundir os CPS em cuidadores e estimular o direito dos pacientes em receber informação sobre o prognóstico de sua enfermidade.

[Domestic violence in patients and caregivers dyads in neurological diseases]. / Violencia doméstica en díadas paciente-cuidador de enfermedades neurológicas.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with neurological diseases are susceptible to abuse and neglect. Studies on violence in this context have mainly focused on abuse perpetrated by a caregiver to the patient directionally. In this study we describe violence in dyads of caregivers and patients with neurological disorders according to frequency, directionality, and type of relation. METHODS: One-hundred-and-eighty-five caregiver-patient dyads were assessed by means of the National Survey of Violence Against Women (NSVAW) guidelines and the Zarit and Pfeiffer questionnaires. Bivariate analysis and Spearman correlation tests were performed. RESULTS: Violence was reported by 32.5% of caregivers and 33.5% of patients. In both groups, psychological abuse was the most common. Mutual violence (54.5%) is the most common type of abuse and the caregiver reported as having more violent behavior is the intimate partner. Epilepsy was the neurological disorder where violence was more prevalent (47.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of violence in our sample is higher than the one for the general population of 21%, as reported by the NSVAW. Clinical neurologists and healthcare services are key elements for the detection of abuse in this context.

[Clinical guidelines for the prevention of falls in elderly people]. / Guia de práctica clínica para la prevencion de caídas en el adulto mayor.

Demographic changes in our population are focusing on the health providers to prevent or minimize functional impairments resulting from the various chronic and multiple illnesses to which the elderly are prone. Because of that, we developed strategies that can help us to take decisions in order to identify the risk factors, and to prescribe preventive and rehabilitation programs. With this background, we organized an expert team to develop this guideline with evidence based on medicine methodology, and focus on the first level treatment prescribed by the general practitioner, with the participation of the health team and the support networks.

Insomnio en el paciente geriátrico / Insomnia in the geriatrical patients

Durante el proceso normal de envejecimiento ocurren una serie de cambios fisiológicos y no fisiológicos, un problema frecuente son los trastornos del sueño. La prevalencia del insomnio en ancianos puede alcanzar desde un 25 a 43 por ciento. Se ha identificado que los ancianos duermen menos profundamente, despiertan con más frecuencia durante la noche y se despiertan más temprano durante la mañana. Sin embargo, la calidad y duración del sueño puede ser igual que en las personas más jóvenes, si el anciano es saludable. Los trastornos del sueño pueden alterar su calidad de vida, su funcionalidad cotidiana y la vida de relación. Dado el rápido aumento de la población que envejece, es necesario que el médico este consciente de los cambios que acompañan al ciclo sueño-vigilia en la vejez, independientemente de cualquier proceso patológico y las implicaciones prácticas del tratamiento