Learning Objective #1: Explore the effectiveness of a Home-Based Management Intervention Program (HMIP) for the family caregivers of elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty

Learning Objective #2: Explore the caregivers' adaptation and satisfaction in the Home-Based Management Intervention Program

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The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to ascertain the effects of a Home-Based Management Intervention Program (HMIP) for the family caregivers of elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty on caregivers' adaptation and satisfaction. The conceptual framework of the study was derived from the Roy Adaptation Model. The purposive sample consisted of fifty-four dyads of post-hip arthroplasty patients and their family caregivers. The patients were admitted to general orthopedic wards at two tertiary care hospitals in Bangkok, from February 2002-January 2003. The subjects were divided equally between the control group and the experimental group. The control group received only conventional nursing care, whereas the experimental group received conventional nursing care coupled with the HMIP. Data were obtained from semi-structured interview by using questionnaires: the demographic data, the family caregiver's adaptation, and the family caregiver's satisfaction. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and independent t-test. The findings of this study revealed that at the second and the sixth weeks after the patients' operation, the mean scores of caregivers' adaptation of the subjects in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<.01 and p<.001, respectively). Moreover, the family caregivers in the experimental group had a significantly higher difference in scores between the two periods of caregivers' adaptation than that of the control group (p<.01). Finally, the family caregivers in the experimental group had a significantly higher scores of caregivers' satisfaction than that of the control group (p<.001). As for the implication of this study, it could be used as a guideline for helping family caregivers adapt to their role and enable them to provide quality care to the dependent elderly after hip arthroplasty.