FAMILY COPING INDEX

The family coping index (FCI) was developed as a tool practice, as in an approach to identifying the family need for nursing care and assessing the potential for behavioral changes, and as a method of determining in a more systematic way in which the nurse can help the family to manage. This index continues to be used today as a relevant method of evaluating a familys ability to cope with lifes daily challenges.

CATEGORY

INITIAL

FINAL

JUSTIFICATION

1 3 5 1 3 5

1. Physical Independence This category is concerned with the ability to move about; it measures the family competence.

The family partially fails to provide the required care to one or more of its members. Mother Anabelle who has a part time job as a laundry woman cannot attend to all of her childrens needs specifically to that of their physical hygiene. Father Eddies salary is still not enough to meet the familys needs. Richard (eldest) instead of going to school roams around the street and does the work of a parking boy.

The family is now able to carry out the required care to its members. Ruffa (youngest) and Raymond (middle child) are now able to perform personal hygiene procedures on their own even without assistance. Mother Anabelles part time work had helped the family to meet its needs.

2. Therapeutic Competence

This category includes all the procedure or treatment prescribed for the care of illness such as giving medications and using tools, dressings, exercises and relaxation.

The family practice self-medication. They buy over the counter (OTC) drugs and uses them inappropriately. They also patronize quack doctors or mananawas. The family seldom goes to the Barangay Health Center for consultation because they do not have enough time, said Mother Anabelle. Ruffa has wounds on the scalp and Raymond has a wound in his left heel these were not given much attention by the parents. Also all of the children have pediculosis.

The family improved their practices about health. Mother Anabelle and her children now go to the health center for consultation. She even asked assistance on what to do with Ruffas wounds on the scalp and Raymonds wound on the left heel. Now both of their wounds are healed. Also they started to perform actions regarding the pediculosis present in the children. They have used the traditional methods like suyod and the manually picking the lice out of the head. The children are also advised to play not directly under the heat of the sun. Though they cannot remove totally their beliefs in quack doctors it has been minimized.

3. Knowledge on Health Condition This category has concerns for the particular health condition that is occasion for care.

The family has some general knowledge of the disease or condition but is partially informed. Upon interview and assessment presence of pediculosis were noted. Also Ruffa has wounds in the scalp which is believed by Mother Anabelle as singaw whenever the weather is hot. The family members also do not practice proper hand washing and the children have long dirty finger and toe nails. This could lead to acquiring certain illness such as parasitism and diarrhea.

The family now understands the different health condition present within the family. They have started treating the pediculosis of the children. Mother Anabelle now understands the cause of Ruffas wounds. Ruffa may have acquired it when she scratched her head when she still has long dirty finger nails (before the SN came) because of pediculosis. Mother Anabelle used betadine to treat the wounds of Ruffa. The family especially the children now practice personal hygiene and good grooming such as brushing their teeth, combing their hair and dressing with clean clothes.

4. Application Principles of Hygiene

of General

This is concerned with the family action in relation to maintaining family nutrition, securing rest and carrying out accepted preventive measures.

The family diet is grossly inadequate or unbalanced. As verbalized by Mother Anabelle her children do not eat vegetables and prefer to eat processed food like hotdog and longganisa. They also take fish crackers as an alternative viand. Their house is dirty and their food is handled in an unsanitary manner. It was noted that the family has poor personal hygiene as they have long dirty nails, for both fingers and toes, hair with pediculosis. Also they lack proper storage facility and they have poor toilet facility. The family learned to budget their resources and income specially on buying their food. Gutierrez family improved their personal hygiene especially the children. They already cut their long dirty nails; they also started to perform measures to remove the pediculosis of the children. Good grooming is now practiced by the family like combing hair and dressing with clean clothes. The toilet is kept clean by the families inside the compound.

5. Health Care Attitudes

This category is concerned with the way the family feels about health care in general; including preventive services, care of illness and public health measures.

The family believes in folk medicine and has superstitious beliefs. They patronize mananawas and believe in usog. Mother Anabelle insisted that lack of time is the reason why they do not consult the Health Care provider in the Health Center. Upon interview the habit of Father Eddie of smoking for approximately of 10 sticks a day and extreme alcohol drinking almost everyday is not given any possible measure to minimize it.

The family now spares time to go to the Health Center and consult HCP about their health conditions. Though they cannot remove their beliefs on mananawas. Mother Anabelle told us that they minimize their consultations to the folk doctors. Father Eddie now recognizes the bad effects of his vices and is now willing to reduce them.

6. Emotional Competence This has to do with the maturity and integrity with which the members of the family are able to meet the usual stresses and problems of life.

The family perceives an illness to be cured even without proper management which implies that the family cannot properly cope to stresses in life partially. The children especially Ruffa and Raymond often quarrel with each other due to small things. They also lack support with each other because of the parents work and the childrens activities.

The family now realizes the importance of proper management to a certain health condition. The family also realizes the value time and bonding moments. Open communication is now practiced within the family.

7. Family Living Patterns This category is concerned largely with the interpersonal or group aspects of family life.

Due to Father Eddie being at work and Mother Annabelles various household chores and part time jobs, the children and their parents are not able to share a close bonding relationship.

Now the family realizes the importance of bonding moments to establish good family relationship. They see to it that they will allot a time to talk and to share each others thoughts and feelings after doing their responsibilities.

8. Physical Environment
This category is concerned with the home and the community or the environment as it affects the familys health.

The house of family Gutierrez is in poor condition, poorly ventilated and the family is at risk for injury because of accident hazards like fire hazards. Poor toilet facility is also prominent in the compound. Communicable diseases can be easily transferred from one member to another because of inadequate living space and poor ventilation. Accident hazards are removed by the family. The toilet facility is now being maintained and cleaned by the families in the compound. They also keep the premises clean specially the area where they cook their food. For the ventilation of the house the window is always kept open during daytime to provide air circulation. For the living space we reorganized the appliances in the house to provide a larger space for sleeping area and doing other activities such as changing their clothes, eating and studying their lessons.

 9. Use of Facilities Community

This is concerned with the degree to which family members know about and wisdom with which they use available community resources.

The family has knowledge of the different community facilities present in their Barangay but does not utilize all of the facilities. They only visit the health center for consultation if they think the disease of a member of the family needs immediate and proper attention of a health care provider and seldom attend the masses in the chapel. The family now realizes the value of utilizing community facilities available. Mother Anabelle brings her children to the health center for consultation. They have already utilized the education centers such as the Salapungan elementary school and the Day-care center beside the health center which are present in the community.