Die sielkundige behoeftes van die versorgers van pasiënte met Alzheimer se siekte

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Date
2000-12
Authors
Potgieter, Johannes Cornelis
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The aim of this study was to investigate the needs experienced by the primary caregivers of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease from a fortological perspective. Both children and spouses as caregivers were included in this study. An additional aim was to develop guidelines from the results of this study in order to help caregivers, who often seem to bear the brunt of the negative consequences of the care giving situation. A literature review was done of publications pertaining to the particular needs experienced by these caregivers, as well as the stress they typically experience and their resultant psychological vulnerability. Specific attention was also given to those factors showing a positive relationship with the continuation of the caregiver's psychological and physical wellbeing. Identification of these factors could eventually contribute to the formulation of guidelines for a program for caregivers and thus help them to maintain their levels of psychological wellbeing. This survey was of a binary nature, as both quantitative and qualitative means of data analysis were employed. Eight females, each identified as a regular attendant of a monthly Alzheimer's disease focus group, were included in this project. For completion of the quantitative part of this study, it was expected of each of the participants to complete five questionnaires. The General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979) was used to determine the participants' general levels of physical and psychological health. The Burden Interview of Zarit, Reever and Bach- Peterson (1980) was used to determine the amount of 'caregiver-burden' they experienced. Their level of satisfaction with life was determined with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmonds, Larsen & Griffin, 1985). The Fortitude Questionnaire (Pretorius, 1998) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky, 1987) were utilised to provide an estimation of the extent to which salutogenic and fortogenie factors were employed as a means of handling daily stressors. In the qualitative section of this study (which represents the focus of this research), material from the monthly group discussions, individual interviews with the eight subjects and diaries (two subjects) were used. The ecosystemic model by Bronfenbrenner (1980) and the time and space model of Heyns (1991) were used during the analysis of this data. Attention was thus given to every aspect of caregiver functioning. In this study, confirmation was found for the existence of the majority of stressors already identified in earlier research. A substantial overlapping between these findings and that of a large project conducted in Europe in which the same measuring devices were used was found (Schneider, Murray, Banerjee & Mann, 1999). A number of factors were identified as playing an important role in determining the dynamics of the care giving process. Included here were the understanding of the complicated bereavement process these individuals have to contend with, and the very important role of individual and group counselling in helping them. Religion, as well as social and specialised support, was also identified as factors affecting the physical, spiritual and psychological wellbeing of the individual caregiver. These factors should be employed in the construction of any support program for the care givers of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om die behoeftes van die versorgers van pasiënte met Alzheimer se siekte vanuit 'n psigofortologiese hoek te ondersoek. Beide kinders en huweliksmaats wat as versorgers optree is by hierdie studie betrek. 'n Verdere doel was om riglyne daar te stel vir die hulpverlening aan hierdie versorgers, wat dikwels swaar dra aan die besondere veeleisendheid van die versorgingstaak. Die aard van hulle behoeftes, die stres wat hulle ervaar en hulle gevolglike psigologiese kwesbaarheid is in die literatuur nagegaan. Spesifieke aandag is geskenk aan faktore wat 'n positiewe verband toon met die handhawing en bevordering van die versorgers se sielkundige en fisieke welstand. Die identifisering van sodanige faktore kan bydra tot die formulering van riglyne vir 'n program vir versorgers om hulle in staat te stel om hulle vlakke van sielkundige welstand te behou. Die ondersoek was van 'n tweeledige aard, aangesien daar gebruik gemaak is van beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data-ontledingsmetodes. Agt dames, wat gereeld 'n maandelikse Alzheimer-ondersteunersgroep bywoon, is by hierdie studie betrek. Vir die kwantitatiewe ondersoek is daar van elk verwag om vyf vraelyste te voltooi. Die versorgers se algemene vlak van fisieke en geestelike gesondheid is gemeet met behulp van Goldberg en Hillier (1979) se Algemene Gesondheidstoestand-vraelys. Die mate van versorger-las wat hulle ervaar het, is gemeet met behulp van die Lasdraonderhoud van Zarit, Reever en Bach-Peterson (1980). Hul mate van lewenstevredenheid is bepaal met behulp van Diener, Emmonds, Larsen en Griffin (1985) se Lewensbevredigingskaal. Die Koherensiesin-vraelys (Antonovsky, 1987) en die Fortaliteits-vraelys (Pretorius, 1998) is ook afgeneem ten einde te bepaal tot watter mate salutogene en psigofortologiese faktore 'n rol speel in die versorgers se hantering van stressore. In die kwalitatiewe gedeelte van die ondersoek (waarop die grootste klem geplaas is) is gebruik gemaak van materiaal uit fokusgroepgesprekke, individuele onderhoude met die agt dames en dagboekmateriaal wat deur twee van die dames beskikbaar gestel is. Laasgenoemde data is ontleed en gekodeer deur gebruik te maak van 'n kombinasie van Bronfenbrenner (1980) se ekosistemiese benadering en die tyd-ruimtelike skema van Heyns (1991). Daar is dus aandag gegee aan alle areas van versorger-funksionering. Die voorkoms van die behoeftes van die versorgers van pasiënte met Alzheimer se siekte, soos in die literatuur opgeteken, is tot 'n groot mate bevestig, so ook die resultate van 'n uitgebreide Europese studie waarin dieselfde meetinstrumente gebruik is (Schneider, Murray, Banerjee & Mann, 1999). 'n Aantal faktore is geïdentifiseer wat 'n belangrike rol speel in die dinamika van die versorgmgsproses. Hieronder is die belangrikheid van die bewuswees van die gekompliseerdheid van die rouproses wat hierdie versorgers deurleef en die belangrike rol wat ingeligte individuele en groepsberading vir die versorgers in dié verband kan speel. Godsdiens, sosiale ondersteuning en gespesialiseerde hulpverlening het ook geblyk 'n belangrike rol te speel in die behoud van versorgers se geestelike, sielkundige en fisieke welstand. Hierdie faktore behoort in enige ondersteuningsprogram vir die versorgers van pasiënte met Alzheimer se siekte verreken te word.
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Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, Caregiver, Stress, Coping, Psychological well-being, Salutogenic paradigm, Sense of coherence, General resistance resources, Fortology, Fortitude, Alzheimer's disease -- Patients -- Families, Caregivers -- Mental health, Alzheimer's disease -- Patients -- Care -- Psychological aspects, Dissertation (M.Sc. (Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2000
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