[Multidisciplinary intervention program for caregivers of patients in a home care program]. / Programa de intervención multidisciplinaria para cuidadores de pacientes en atención domiciliaria.

OBJECTIVES: To improve quality of life, anxiety and depression in caregivers of patients in home care. METHODS: We performed a randomized clinical trial in 79 main caregivers (39 control group and 40 intervention group) of patients in the home care program of a primary care health center between 2000 and 2001. Quality of life, anxiety and depression were measured by the COOP/WONCA and Goldberg questionnaires, respectively, at the beginning and at the end of the study. Interventions consisted of two medical visits to take a bio-psychosocial history of the caregiver and a nurse visit for health education. Two letters, adapted to each carer's needs, were sent and two telephone calls were made. RESULTS: The intervention group scored significantly better than the control group in relation to WONCA-feelings (p=0.03), WONCA-social activities (p=0.05), and WONCA-quality of life (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: A short multidisciplinary intervention program adapted to routine consultations could prevent deterioration in caregivers' quality of life.

Programa de intervención multidisciplinaria para cuidadores de pacientes en atención domiciliaria / Multidisciplinary intervention program for caregivers of patients in a home care program

Objetivos: Mejorar la calidad de vida, la ansiedad y la depresiónde los cuidadores de pacientes en atención domiciliaria.Métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado; 79 cuidadores principales(39 grupo control y 40 grupo intervención) de pacientesen atención domiciliaria de un centro de salud entre 2000 y2001. La calidad de vida, la ansiedad y la depresión se midieronmediante los cuestionarios COOP/WONCA y la escalade Goldberg, respectivamente, al inicio y al final del estudio.Las intervenciones consistieron en 2 visitas médicas pararealizar la anamnesis biopsicosocial del cuidador y una visitade enfermería sobre educación sanitaria. Se enviaron doscartas adaptadas a cada cuidador y se realizaron dos llamadastelefónicas de apoyo.Resultados: Se observó una mejora significativa del grupointervención respecto al grupo control en relación conWONCA-sentimientos (p = 0,03), WONCA-actividades sociales(p = 0,05) y WONCA-calidad de vida (p = 0,02).Conclusiones: Una intervención multidisciplinaria y adaptadaa la consulta habitual podría reducir el deterioro de la calidadde vida de los cuidadores(AU)

Objectives: To improve quality of life, anxiety and depressionin caregivers of patients in home care.Methods: We performed a randomized clinical trial in 79 maincaregivers (39 control group and 40 intervention group) of patientsin the home care program of a primary care health centerbetween 2000 and 2001. Quality of life, anxiety and depressionwere measured by the COOP/WONCA and Goldbergquestionnaires, respectively, at the beginning and at the endof the study. Interventions consisted of two medical visits totake a bio-psychosocial history of the caregiver and a nursevisit for health education. Two letters, adapted to each carer’sneeds, were sent and two telephone calls were made.Results: The intervention group scored significantly betterthan the control group in relation to WONCA-feelings (p = 0.03),WONCA-social activities (p = 0.05), and WONCA-quality oflife (p = 0.02).Conclusions: A short multidisciplinary intervention programadapted to routine consultations could prevent deteriorationin caregivers’ quality of life(AU)