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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify the informal caregivers' of dependent elders interests and barriers in the participation in a psycho-educational programme.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify specific strategies to eliminate such barriers, in order to promote an active participation of the informal caregivers.
This study examined informal caregivers' of dependent elders interest in and the barriers to participation in a psychoeducational programme. The intervention was developed to support informal caregivers enrolled in a Oporto Family Health Unit, who agreed to participate in an action research study based on André Morin´s (2004) Integral Action Research (IAR) Model.
Methods:
A qualitative study among 18 informal caregivers of dependents elders was conducted. A semi-structured, in-depth, face- to-face interviews as method of data collection was used. The analysis of the qualitative data was based on Bardin´s technique of content analysis.
Results:
Barriers associated with non participation and withdrawal from the IAR were identified within the following categories: lack of support from family and friends; lack of transportation; lack of time, lack of need for additional support, and dependent elder death. Regards the reasons that lead people to continue to participate in the program, the following categories emerged from participants narratives: Learning to care for the elderly; Learning to Care for itself; Get emotional and financial support and encouragement from health professionals.
Conclusion:
The results of this study will help nurses to understand the barriers and to develop specific strategies to eliminate such barriers.