Effect of the programme Plan de egreso on chronically ill patients and their family caregivers

To determine the effect of the programme Hospitalisation discharge plan for patients with chronic diseases and family caregivers to strengthen their home care competence -CUIDAR- and reduce the caregiver burden.

Quasi-experimental study approach with intervention group. Participants were 62 patients and their caregivers who consulted with a health care institution in the city of Girardot (Colombia). The intervention was carried out for one month, during which, measurements were performed before and after the programme.

Most patients were elderly, diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or COPD, 35% of them with some degree of dependency. The caregivers were mostly women, between the ages of 35 and 59 years old, domestic caregivers, and responsible for caring for their patients for between 13-24hours a day. At the start of the programme the competency for care was low in both patients and caregivers, after the intervention there was a general increase in care and a statistically significant change. Also, at the beginning, 48% of caregivers had some level of burden, and after the study only 27% reported burden with care.

The Hospitalisation discharge plan is a strategy that increases the home care competency of the patient and the caregiver, and decreases the caregiver burden.