[The health problems and needs of chronic home-bound patients]

In light of the progressive ageing of the population and the consequent inability of a section of the population to attend health service facilities on their own, this study aims to establish the proportion of this population which could enter a programme of longterm home treatment, to identify their health problems and to assess what services they might require.

Descriptive study of a crossover type. SITE. Four Sections of the Primary Care Centre in Andoain (Guipúzcoa).

Criteria of mobility, social and family support, mental state and limitations on daily activities were those considered when including patients in the study. The selection was made by examining clinical histories, long-treatment cards, the number of home alerts and by contacting institutions.

A survey of 68 patients in their homes was undertaken. The average age was 81, with a 76.47% majority of women. 41.06% were bed-ridden or in a wheel-chair and 50% suffered severe invalidity. We noted an average of 2.9 pathologies per patient; with cardiovascular problems (26.6%) accounting for the largest number. The average consumption of medicines was 2.83 per patient.

The chronic home-bound patient presents several characteristics: advanced age, little mobility and a high level of invalidity. She/he suffers several pathologies and takes a large number of medicines, which require some level of primary care control. Both this control and any improvement in the quality of life and satisfaction for this type of patient crucially depend on nursing care.