Nursing care and management for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in home care approach.

Abstract

Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS), known to be Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the motor nerves of the brain and spinal cord and affects the regulations of voluntary movement of muscle actions, and respiration. The study aims to promote knowledge about the required care needs of ALS patients for the management of their illness. The study discusses an explores a holistic care approach, multidisciplinary care models, care needs, treatment options and intervention, and healthcare services for the care of ALS patients. Jean Watson's theory of transpersonal caring was taken as a theoretical base.

A qualitative systematic literature review was used as a method of this research. Nine peer-reviewed scientific articles from 2015 to 2024 via the Novia electronic database EBSCO Academic Search Elite, PubMed, and CINAHL were extracted. The articles were further analysed to gain main themes and sub-themes via qualitative content analysis. 2 main themes and 9 sub-themes had emerged from the content analysis.

The finding demonstrated that home care treatment is effective for ALS patients as home care focuses on personalized interventions according to the patient’s needs. This study presented that a multidisciplinary patient-centered approach in collaboration with specialized multidisciplinary palliative care teams can be effective for the care of ALS patients. This collaboration at-home care can be able to address patients and families all holistic needs physical, emotional, and spiritual. A standard quality of care with proper end-of-life care decisions can be gained for ALS patient treatment.