care and implications for caregivers of surgical patients at home

To identify the care given by informal caregivers to patients who underwent abdominal surgery in the Consorci Hospitalari of Vic (Barcelona). To compare the responsibility burdenfor those caregivers in all the different stages of the surgical process. To determine the consequences of the care itself on the caregiver's health and to identify the factors that contributeto the need of providing care and the appearance of consequences for the caregivers in thehome. Methodology: A longitudinal observational study with follow-up at admission, at discharge and10 days, of 317 non-paid caregivers of patients who suffer underwent surgery. The characteristics of caregivers and surgical patients were studied. The validated questionnaire, ICUB97-Rbased on the model by Virginia Henderson, was used to measure the care provided by informalcaregivers and its impact on patient quality of life. Results: Most of the caregivers were women, with an average age of 52.9 +/- 13.7 years withoutany previous experience as caregivers. The greater intensity of care and impact was observedin the time when they arrived home after hospital discharge (p < 0.05). The predictive variablesof repercussions were being a dependent patient before the surgical intervention (beta = 2.93, p = 0.007), having a cancer diagnosis (beta = 2.87, p <.001) and time dedicated to the care process( p= 0.07, p = 0.018). Conclusions: Caregivers involved in the surgical process provide a great amount of care at homedepending on the characteristics of patients they care for, and it affects their quality of life. (C) Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.