Correlates of Social Support, Family Function, and Conditions of Home Care Nursing in Family Caregivers

가정간호대상자 가족의 사회적 지지와 가족기능, 가정간호 특성 간의 관계

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors related to the social support, family and friend support as well as home care nurse support, in family caregivers of patients with home care service. Method: The participants were 111 family caregivers of patient, who were receiving home care services from home health care centers of 3 different general hospitals located in Seoul. The data was collected, using self-administered questionnaires. Result: The level of family and friend support varied significantly according to patients' mental status, period of home care nursing, frequency of home care service, caregiver's education level, family income, and family functioning level. On the other hand, home care nurse support varied significantly according to patients' mental status, caregiver's age, existence of interchangeable family caregivers, and family functioning level. There was a significantly positive correlation between the social support the family caregivers' perceived and family function while there was a negative correlation between family and friend support and the period of home care service. Conclusion: Thus, the establishment of nursing interventional program, with understanding of their social support, is needed for both patients and their caregivers.