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 care to one or more its members, or is disability in one or
of bed to take of its member. providing care for more of its members,
care 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 Family able to
- includes all of carrying out some but not all of demonstrate that the
the procedures procedure the treatments. members can carry
or treatments prescribed or doing it out the prescribed
prescribed for unsafely 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
occasion for partially informed. the rationale of care,
care. able to report
significant
symptoms.
4. Application of
principles of Family diet grossly Failing to apply Household runs
person and inadequate or some general smoothly, family
general unbalanced, principles of hygiene. meals well selected;
hygiene- necessary habits of sleep and
 concerned with immunization not rest adequate to
family action in secured for children; rest.
relation to house dirty, food
maintaining handled in
family nutrition, unsanitary way;
securing working beyond
adequate rest reasonable limit;
and relaxation children and adults
for family getting too little
members, sleep.
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
which the member lacking in lack of security or of emotional calm,
members of the any emotional maturity. face up to illness
family are able control- realistically and
to meet the uncontrollable rages; hopefully.
usual stresses one or more
and problems members alcoholic,
of life and to suspicious of one
plan for a another, evidences
happy living. of great insecurity.
7. Family Living-
concerned Family consists of a Family gets along Family does things
largely with the group of individuals but 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
concerned with condition- unsafe, repair or painting but repair; provides for
the home, unscreened; fundamentally privacy and is free of
community, neighborhood sound; neighborhood accidents and pest
and work deteriorated- juvenile poor 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 not all of the appropriately and
family use and sought or found any available community promptly. Feels
awareness of help. 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.