TY - BOOK AU - Malabunga, Pilar L. Singson. AU - ED - ED - ED - ED - SN - 2 PY - 0000///46 CY - PB - KW - KW - 2 KW - 0 KW - 6 KW - 20 N1 - Thesis (M.A.) -- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Intramuros, Manila, 1995.;A thesis presented to the Graduate Programs in Arts, Sciences, Education, and Nursing in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Nursing; 5 N2 - ABSTRACT. Peculiar to Philippine hospital settings is the presence of watchers at the bedside. It is a unique Filipino tradition exemplifying the role of watchers in the context of close family ties, concern for the sick and a compassionate attitude depicting the ''bayanihan spirit'' within us. Uprooting this custom may draw unconventional practices; for some this maybe perceived as anti-Filipino. Hospitalization is one opportunity when families demonstrate their concern for each other. It is crisis itself and relationships are strengthened with every interaction. Several studies have shown that social support systems, such as the practice of having watchers, directly benefits the patient and his family. As of now, administrators have not yet come up with definite policies that would allow watchers to become part of the health team. The role they play in the recovery of the patient and the activities that they perform have not yet been fully explored. This study determined to assess the usability level of watchers in the care of trauma patients. Specifically, it attempted to: 1. Identify the activities watchers perform in the physical, psychosocial, and environmental aspects of care; 2. Determine if there is any significant relationship between levels of care watchers perform with socio-demographic characteristics, such as. 2.1 age 2.2 sex 2.3 civil status 2.4 educational background 2.5 relationship to patient 2.6 number of days as watcher 2.7 affinal status 2.8 previous hospital exposure/experience 3. Recommend policies relative to institutionalizing watchers in hospitals which can be appropriately applied Procedure and Research Design: The study made use of the correlational method of research. For the data collection, the researcher utilized the questionnaire, observation and interview schedule. The respondents are the watchers in the hospital and they were chosen through the use of the cluster sampling technique. Frequencies, percentage distribution and the chi-square test were used in the data analysis. Findings and Conclusion: Watchers assists patients in various activities during the course of hospitalization. 1. Activities Watchers Perform The activities that watchers performed were identified and categorized into physical care, psychosocial care, and environmental care. 1.1 Psychosocial care ranked first in the frequently performed activities of watchers. 1.2 Environmental care is also one of the areas where watchers can be depended upon. It ranked second in the activities most frequently performed by watchers. 1.3 Physical care-related activities ranked third in the most frequently performed activities. 2. Socio-demographic Characteristics of Watchers and Their Level of Care The following socio-demographic characteristics of watchers have a significant relationship with their level of care: a. Sex b. Relationship to patient c. Number of days as watcher d. With previous hospital experience/exposure On the other hand, the socio-demographic attributes of watchers which do not have a significant relationship with the level of care are the following: a. age b. civil status c. educational attainment d. affinal status Recommendations: Institutionalizing watchers in the hospitals is a means of officially recognizing the role and value one places on the psycho-socio-cultural importance of a family. Upholding this Filipino tradition turns out to be more beneficial rather than contradicting it. The following are therefore recommended: 1. The role of family (and family extensions more particularly the watcher), in the care of the sick, must be encouraged. 2. Strengthening family values must be included in the nursing curriculum. Furthermore, among the health professionals, it is in relating with the patient and his watcher that this can be exemplified. 3. The practice of having watchers must be supported both by the nursing staff and the hospital administration. 4. Definite policies on the watchers should be specified to include the following qualifications: female, directly related to the patient, those who had been previously exposed/experienced hospitalization, ''permanent assignment'' as watcher. 5. Watchers must be given the opportunity and venue where they can interact, process and share experiences with one another. This will enhance the support system among them. Provision of a small room is therefore recommended. 6. Psychosocial care-related activities must be encouraged and strengthened. Watchers must be given as much time to be with their patients as necessary in order to satisfy the psychological component of care. 7. watchers can be maximally utilized in the environmental care-related activities. Their involvement in the maintenance of cleanliness and orderliness of the unit must be stressed. 8. A training program for watchers to improve their skills in the provision of physical care-related activities must be made available by the nursing staff in the form of modules or health teaching kits. 9. Psychosocial processing session must be offered to help relieve the anxieties of watchers to strengthen their capability to provide psychosocial support to their patients. 10. Costing the effects of having watchers around can open venues for further research specially its impact on the hospital's resources. 11. This study must be replicated in other hospitals as study site ER -