[Influence of Family in the Patient with Neurological Pathology and Acute Confusional Syndrome]

Given the type of pathology and age of patients in the inpatient unit of Neurology, Hospital de Cabueñes (Gijon), acute confusional syndrome (ACS) is very common in this service.

To determine the influence of the family, within the limits of the hospital, in patients with neurological disease suffering from SCA.

A prospective, observational, descriptive study of 53 patients with neurological disease that suffered from SCA was performed. The study variables were: disorientation, agitation, medication, effectiveness, and body grip on each shift with and without family. All those patients suffering from any dementia or psychiatric problem before entering were discarded.

The mean age of the patients was 83 years old. The most common pathology was ICTUS. The patients with family were 47.4% versus 52.6% without family in three shifts. 70.3% of the patients became disoriented with family; for patients without family the percentage increased up to 83.8%. As far as nervousness is concerned, 11.4% of the patients with family experienced this behaviour in the three shifts; no-family patients suffering from nervousness were 29.4%. Medication was administered to 33% of the patients with family, and to 44% of no-family patients. The effectiveness was 66.5% for patients with family and 48% for no-family patients. The use of body grip in the three shifts was 7.6% for patients with family and 64.5% for no-family patients.

Family has a beneficial effect on neurological patients with ACS, specially by reducing the use of mechanical restraint, helping to preserve the dignity of elderly patients in an adverse environment such as a hospital.