SPECIFIC ASPECTS IN ORGANIZATION AND PROVISION OF HOME-BASED MEDICAL CARE IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF PATIENTS

Abstract

A large number of patients who are discharged from inpatient care facilities still require professional care. Home-based nursing care offers help to the family and significant others of the patient who need assistance and counseling. The home care nurse controls the overall condition of the patient, the changes in the patient’s condition over time and the course of his/her disease while providing for timely and efficient qualified care. The aim of the study was to explore the main principles of the nursing process when providing care for patients in the home; to investigate the specific aspects of care in neurological disease; to define the nursing roles in home-based care for patients with cancer; to find out the duties of nursing assistants/nursing aides/licensed practical nurses when caring for patients with cardiovascular and respiratory disease; to determine the need in training the family members in basic rules of home-based patient care and to compare patient feedback on improvement of their quality of life after their family/significant others have been educated in patient care. The methods of study included the following: general clinical assessment history of present disease and health history; patient observation, physical examination, general health assessment; data comparison; analytic method; and statistical research methods. We have identified the basic algorithms for providing of home-based care in patients with various disease; the basic principles in the management of neurological patients, the specific aspects of and optimal approaches to such patients. The authors have studied the nursing roles in the home when providing care to cardiovascular and respiratory patients. In addition, we have reviewed the distinctive characteristics of the course of malignant neoplastic disease and the nursing care services in various situations. Finally, the study compared the feedback of patients with various disease on improvement of their quality of life after their family members have been educated in patient care.