Group of family companions of hospitalized patients: an occupational therapy intervention strategy in a general hospital

• Main Authors: Daniel Ferreira Dahdah, Ana Maria Pimenta Carvalho, Juliana Carla Delsim, Bruna Romano Gomes, Vanessa Spera de Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de São Carlos 2013-08-01
• Series: Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional
• Subjects: Family; Group Processes; Occupational Therapy
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4322/cto.2013.041

There is a consensus in the literature that the company of a family member during the hospitalization period increases patient recovery. However, this can have some negative effects on the caregiver’s health. With the purpose of reducing these negatives effects, it is useful to let family members express themselves. The State Hospital of Ribeirão Preto created a Group of Family Companions coordinated by the Occupational Therapy and Social Service. This study focuses on the assistance offered in a general hospital to families that undergo the whole illness and hospitalization process of their family member, suffering the impacts of this process in their daily lives, and on the intervention of Occupational Therapy in these cases.