[Neurological disorders and dependence of nursing care in patients with brain tumor].

The aim of this study was to identify neurological disorders in 32 patients with diagnosis of brain tumor, and to evaluate the dependency of nursing care before and after the surgery. This study was carried out at the Neurosurgery Unit of São Paulo Hospital, Brazil, from June to December, 2004. One instrument was used to collect physical and neurological data, and another to evaluate the dependence degree. An increase of the dependence degree was observed after surgical intervention, which therefore needs to be correlated with nursing team size in order to optimize care.