Mothwa Nchaesa G, Moagi Miriam M, van der Wath Anna E
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
S Afr J Psychiatr. 2020 Aug 25;26:1453. doi: 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v26i0.1453. eCollection 2020.
Families of state patients experience challenges related to the patient's mental illness and history of criminal behaviour. Family members who act as guardians when patients are on leave of absence take responsibility for the patient's basic needs, activities of daily living and treatment regimen. They need to safeguard the patient from potential self-harm and harming others. Few studies have explored the burden these family members experience.
The aim of this study was to explore and describe the challenges experienced by families caring for mental state patients who are on leave of absence.
An urban area in South Africa.
A qualitative approach was applied to answer the research question, 'what are the challenges experienced by families caring for mental state patients on leave of absence?' A purposive sample of nine participants who were caring for state patients on leave of absence was selected. Individual in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical considerations and trustworthiness guided the study.
Three themes illustrate the challenges experienced by family members, namely, challenges related to state patient's behaviour, emotional challenges and social challenges. A fourth theme focuses on the ways families used to cope with these challenges.
Mental healthcare professionals may use the results of this study to design therapeutic interventions for family members of state patients who focus on empathetic understanding and the mobilisation of effective coping skills and social support.
国家精神病患者的家属面临着与患者精神疾病及犯罪行为史相关的挑战。在患者请假期间担任监护人的家庭成员要负责患者的基本需求、日常生活活动及治疗方案。他们需要保护患者免受潜在的自我伤害及伤害他人的行为。很少有研究探讨这些家庭成员所经历的负担。
本研究的目的是探索和描述照顾请假的精神疾病患者的家庭所面临的挑战。
南非的一个城市地区。
采用定性研究方法来回答研究问题，即“照顾请假的精神疾病患者的家庭面临哪些挑战？”选取了九名照顾请假的国家精神病患者的参与者作为目的抽样样本。采用个体深度访谈收集数据。使用主题分析法对数据进行分析。伦理考量和可信度指导了本研究。
三个主题阐述了家庭成员所面临的挑战，即与国家精神病患者行为相关的挑战、情感挑战和社会挑战。第四个主题聚焦于家庭应对这些挑战的方式。
精神卫生保健专业人员可利用本研究结果，为国家精神病患者的家庭成员设计治疗干预措施，重点是共情理解以及有效应对技能和社会支持的调动。
