Family Functioning Assessed by Family Members in Finnish Families of Heart Patients

Abstract

The role of family is central to the wellbeing and health of individuals. Family attitudes, habits and routines affect the way individuals promote their health. Family functioning and family health are threatened when one family member develops heart disease. The aim of the study was to describe family functioning and to ascertain factors related to family functioning of families with heart patient as assessed by family members. Data collection was done using a questionnaire (FAFHES) in 2000. The sample consisted of 161 family members of patients receiving treatment on two medical wards. The data were analysed by means and tested by parametric and non-parametric tests. The multivariate method used was stepwise regression analysis. The better the family values were materialized and the greater the family's contribution to family health, the better the family's functioning is. Concrete aid was also related to family health. The more concrete aid the family received from nurses, the better family functioning is. When the background variables were included, values and activities remained in the model, but two new variables explained family functioning: family member's age and knowledge of health issues. The older the family member is and the better the knowledge in the family is, the better is family functioning. Family functioning of families with heart patients can be supported and developed by family nursing, e.g. concrete aid from nurses. Other aspects of support, e.g. consideration of family member's age and knowledge of health issues also need to be further considered and studied as the basis of care.