Abstract

VELASQUEZ, Vilma et al. The effect of an educational program for elderly people's caregiversa cultural perspective. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.4, pp.610-619. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective Determining the effect of implementing an educational programme using a cultural approach for caregivers looking after elderly disabled and poor people living in a sector of Bogota, Colombia regarding the following variables: perceived health, family functioning, caregiver burden and depression. Methods This was a quasi-experimental study involving pre-test and post-test. 56 family caregivers participated in the study, 37 in the experimental group and 19 in the control group. The educational program being applied consisted of six group sessions with a 30-day interval. Each session had five phases: awareness-raising, culturally-appropriate information, making decisions, commitments for action and closure. They were led by a nurse specializing in gerontology-geriatrics and transcultural nursing. Several scales were applied: self-perception of health, family APGAR, caregiver burden, and a depression scale. Results The educational program involving a cultural approach had statistically significant effects on family functioning (T=2.506; p=0.015) and caregiver burden (p=-2.149 T=0.036). Self-perception of health and depression revealed no statistically significant differences. Discussion Health education activities addressed from a cultural approach opens the way forward for creating therapeutic diversity arising from dialogue and mediation between popular and professional knowledge. It could be a key against the lack of success in users' adherence to health facilities and treatment.

Keywords : Caregiver; the aged; poverty; transcultural nursing.

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