Systematic Assessment of Caregiving Skill Performance by Individuals with Tetraplegia and Their Caregivers

Abstract

The objective of the proposed study is to create an assessment tool for use by clinicians during inpatient rehabilitation to systematically evaluate and describe competence in self-direction of care and caregiving skills. Key findings derived from rehabilitation chart reviews include the following: The persons who receive caregiver education during the inpatient rehabilitation stay are varied, including spouses, children, parents, and friends of the person with tetraplegia, as well as hired attendants. Instructional methods include discussion and verbal presentation of information, provision of written materials, demonstration of skills, and opportunities to practice skills with feedback from clinicians. A wide variety of topics related to self-care, activities of daily living, equipment use, secondary complications, emergency preparedness, and medical issues appeared in clinical documentation of patient and caregiver training. Clinicians use several techniques to assess the ability of persons with tetraplegia and their caregivers to direct care or perform care tasks. A variety of descriptors are used to characterize the ability of persons with tetraplegia and/or their caregivers to direct or perform care tasks. These include the level of independence with which a task is performed or directed, quality ("good", "fair", "poor"), accuracy ("correctness"), frequency (compared with what is ideal), completeness, and extent to which further training is needed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA620793

Entities

People

  • Jeanne M. Zanca

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Demonstrations
  • Education
  • Emergencies
  • Feedback
  • Health Services
  • Materials
  • Medical Personnel
  • Pain
  • Pain Management
  • Professional Development
  • Rehabilitation
  • Spinal Cord
  • Spinal Injuries
  • Tablet Computers
  • Therapy
  • Training

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Theoretical Analysis.
  • Trauma or Military Medicine