JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Back ground: Increasing life expectancy has led to a risk of chronic disease conditions among the elderly population, which may increase their dependence on family members for their care. Hence care giving is not only the responsibility of health care professionals but also of their family members. Aim: To develop a health education booklet on selected problems of elderly based on the knowledge of elderly patients and their care givers. Materials and methods: Fifty elderly patients and Fifty care givers were purposively assessed for their knowledge from a medical college hospital, Kolar on health problems of elderly patients using a structured knowledge questionnaire. Based on their knowledge level, a health education booklet was prepared and distributed to all elderly patients and caregivers. Statistical analysis: The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Seventy four percent of elderly patients had inadequate knowledge and 54% of their care givers had moderately adequate Knowledge. However none of the elderly patients and their care givers had adequate knowledge. The mean knowledge level of the care givers was 25.96 when compared to 23.7 in the elderly patients but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Neither the elderly nor their care givers had adequate knowledge on management of selected health problems of elderly. Hence there was a need to prepare a booklet in improving the knowledge of elderly on management of health problems of elderly.

Key-words: Knowledge, Elderly care givers, Management of elderly problems