Evaluation of Home Care Services Provided for Childhood Patients

Objective: Home health service refers to the services provided to the individuals who need home health services depending on various diseases, including social and psychological counseling services in their home and family environment. In recent years, home care services have gained importance in our country. This study was aimed to evaluate the pediatric patients followed up in the home care unit and services given. Methods: The sociodemographic characteristics, diseases and services of patients who were followed in Home Care Unit of Sanliurfa Pediatric Hospital are evaluated retrospectively. The data were collected from the registered information of patients who got services at Home Care Unit. Results: A total of 167 patients were registered at the Home Care Unit. One hundred fifty two patients whom we reached their data were included in the study. Fifty-two percent of the patients were male and 42% of them were female. Mean age of the patients was 11 +/- 4.2 years. More than half of the patients were followed up with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy. About ninety-five percent of patients were feeding orally. The most common complaint found during the doctor visit was coughing with the percentage of 28.3. In our study, 92.8% of those who were primarily interested in the care of patients were identified as mothers. None of the patients had paid caregivers. Conclusions: Home health care is one of the rapidly developing health services in our country and we believe that more extensive researches are needed about this.