Family Coping Index

The objective of this indicator is to present bench mark for approximating the nursing
needs of a particular family, thus Family Coping Index. It is the coping capacity and not
the underlying problem that is being rated, and it is designed to record family rather than
individual coping capacity. In public health nursing, the family cannot be seen only as a
factor that affects health; rather, the family is the patient.

Family Coping Index is measured with the following scores:

1-no competence 3-moderate competence 5-complete competence

Area 1 3 5
1. Physical
Independence- Family failing entirely Family providing All family members,
ability to move to provide required partially for needs of whether or not there
about, get out of care to one or more its members, or is disability in one or
bed to take care of its member. providing care for more of its members,
of daily some members but are receiving the
grooming, not for others. necessary care to
walking, etc. maintain cleanliness,
including skin care.
2. Therapeutic
Independence- Family either not Family carrying some Family able to
includes all of carrying out but not all of the demonstrate that the
the procedures procedure prescribed treatments. members can carry
or treatments or doing it unsafely out the prescribed
prescribed for procedure safely and
the care of efficiently, with the
illness. understanding of the
principles involved
and with confident
and willing attitude.
3. Knowledge of
Health Totally uninformed or Has some general Knows the salient
condition- misinformed about knowledge of the facts about the
concerned with the condition disease or condition, disease well enough
the particular but has not grasped to take necessary
health condition the underlying action at the proper
that s the principles, or is time, understands the
occasion for partially informed. rationale of care, able
care. to report significant
symptoms.
4. Application of
principles of Family diet grossly Failing to apply some Household runs
person and inadequate or general principles of smoothly, family
general unbalanced, hygiene. meals well selected;
hygiene- necessary habits of sleep and
concerned with immunization not rest adequate to rest.
 family action in secured for children;
relation to house dirty, food
maintaining handled in unsanitary
family nutrition, way; working beyond
securing reasonable limit;
adequate rest children and adults
and relaxation getting too little
for family sleep.
members,
carrying out
accepted
preventive
measures, and
safe medical
appraisal.
5. Health
Attitude- the Family resents all Accept health care in Understands and
way the family health care; has no some degree, but recognizes need for
feels about confidence in with reservations. medical care in
healthcare in doctors, uses patent illness and for the
general. medicines and quack usual preventive
nostrums; practice services, accepts
folk medicines or illness calmly and
superstitious rites in recognizes the limits
illness. it imposes while
doing all possible to
effect recovery and
rehabilitation.
6. Emotional
Competence- Family does not face Family members All members of the
has to do with realities- assumes usually do fairly well, family able to
maturity and moribund patient will but one or more maintain a
integrity with get well; one or more members evidence reasonable degree of
which the member lacking in lack of security or emotional calm, face
members of the any emotional maturity. up to illness
family are able control- realistically and
to meet the uncontrollable rages; hopefully.
usual stresses one or more
and problems of members alcoholic,
life and to plan suspicious of one
for a happy another, evidences of
living. great insecurity.
7. Family Living-
concerned Family consists of a Family gets along but Family does things
largely with the group of individuals has habits or together, each
interpersonal or indifferent or hostile customs that member acts for the
group aspects to one another, or interfered with the good of the family as
of family life. strongly dominated unity of the family. a whole; children
and controlled by a respects parents and
single family vice-versa; family
member. tasks shared.
8. Physical
Environment- House in poor House needs some House in good repair;
concerned with condition- unsafe, repair or painting but provides for privacy
the home, unscreened; fundamentally sound; and is free of
community, and neighborhood neighborhood poor accidents and pest
work deteriorated- juvenile but possible to hazards; free from
environment. and adult protect children from undesirable social
delinquency no poor social influence elements.
recreational space through education
except streets. and other community
activities.
9. Use of
Community Family has obvious Family is aware of Family uses the
Facilities- and serious social and uses some, but facilities they need
degree of the needs, but not sought not all of the appropriately and
family use and or found any help. available community promptly. Feels
awareness of resources that they secure in their
available need. relationship with
community community workers
facilities for such as social
health workers, teachers,
education doctors, etc.
welfare.