Acceso usuarios
Estudio descriptivo, transversal, se realizó en el año 2001 y su objetivo fue conocer las características de las redes sociales y la percepción de apoyo social a una población de pacientes chilenos en hemodiálisis crónica. Se aplicó un instrumento elaborado por los autores a 84 pacientes con las siguientes características: 62 años de edad promedio, 52% mujeres, 59,5% con dos años o más en diálisis. Los resultados muestran que el 97,5% vive acompañado, y de estos 83,5% vive con familiares. Un 72,2% son jubilados y dueñas de casa; sólo 27,8% realiza trabajo remunerado. El 59,5% declara tener amigos. Respecto a la percepción de apoyo social, el 92,4% refiere sentir que cuenta siempre con apoyo de su familia. De los pacientes que declaran tener amigos, el 55,7% siente que cuenta con su apoyo principalmente emocional. El 48% conoce instituciones de ayuda al enfermo renal, pero menos de la mitad recurre a ellas por ayuda económica. El 73% de los pacientes no siente que su enfermedad sea carga para sus familiares y el 90% se siente importante para ellos. Se concluye que la mayoría vive acompañada por familiares y se sienten apoyados y comprendidos por estos. Por otra parte, ni las amistades ni las instituciones de ayuda al enfermo renal son percibidas como una importante red de apoyo.
This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study focused on identifying perceptions of chilean chronic hemodialysis patients in social support and the characteristics of social networks. An instrument developed by the authors was administered to 84 chronic hemodyalisis patients who had a median age of 62 years. 52% were women, 72,2% were retired and owned their own homes, and 59.5% had been receiving dialysis for two or more years. The majority (97.5%) lived with someone else, and of these 83.5% lived with relatives. Only 27.8% had paying jobs, and 59.5% declared that they had friends. Regarding how they perceived social support, 92.4% indicated that they could always count on their family support for any kind of problem. Of the patients who indicated that they had friends, only 55.7% perceived that they could count on their support, mainly in the form of emotional support. Although 48% indicated that they knew about institutions to aid renal patients, less than half indicated that they had requested aid from these institutions, mainly in the form of economic assistance. Most of them (73%) did not perceive that their disease was a burden for their relatives and 90% indicated that they always felt important for their family. The findings indicate that most of the study participants lived with relatives and feel accepted and understood by their family members. On the other hand, they did not perceive friendship nor institutions that aid renal patients as important sources of support.
