{"title":"La experiencia de los cuidadores no profesionales de pacientes crónicos","authors":"A. Picón-Santamaría , S. Ballesteros-Peña","doi":"10.1016/j.jhqr.2025.101130","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Population aging and the increase in chronic diseases pose significant challenges to healthcare systems. Informal caregivers play a crucial role in caring for these patients, yet their experiences remain underexplored. This study evaluates the experience of informal caregivers of hospitalized chronic patients.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A descriptive observational study was conducted at Hospital Santa Marina, Bilbao, between 2023 and 2024. The IEXPAC-Caregivers scale was used to assess the experience of 182 informal caregivers. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. SPSS v.25 software was used for statistical analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The overall average score was 7.1 (±<!--> <!-->2.7) out of 10 (Cronbach's α<!--> <!-->=<!--> <!-->0.914). The best-rated items were communication during emergencies and medication administration. However, deficiencies were noted in training, information about available resources, and coordination between services. Significant differences were found in aspects such as emotional support and treatment follow-up based on the gender of the caregiver and the patient.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Informal caregivers play an essential role in the care of chronic patients. There is a need to improve service coordination and provide ongoing training and emotional support to them. Gender differences highlight the importance of personalized approaches to enhance their experience and reduce caregiving burden.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37347,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Healthcare Quality Research","volume":"40 5","pages":"Article 101130"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Healthcare Quality Research","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2603647925000429","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Population aging and the increase in chronic diseases pose significant challenges to healthcare systems. Informal caregivers play a crucial role in caring for these patients, yet their experiences remain underexplored. This study evaluates the experience of informal caregivers of hospitalized chronic patients.
Materials and methods
A descriptive observational study was conducted at Hospital Santa Marina, Bilbao, between 2023 and 2024. The IEXPAC-Caregivers scale was used to assess the experience of 182 informal caregivers. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. SPSS v.25 software was used for statistical analysis.
Results
The overall average score was 7.1 (± 2.7) out of 10 (Cronbach's α = 0.914). The best-rated items were communication during emergencies and medication administration. However, deficiencies were noted in training, information about available resources, and coordination between services. Significant differences were found in aspects such as emotional support and treatment follow-up based on the gender of the caregiver and the patient.
Conclusions
Informal caregivers play an essential role in the care of chronic patients. There is a need to improve service coordination and provide ongoing training and emotional support to them. Gender differences highlight the importance of personalized approaches to enhance their experience and reduce caregiving burden.
期刊介绍:
Revista de Calidad Asistencial (Quality Healthcare) (RCA) is the official Journal of the Spanish Society of Quality Healthcare (Sociedad Española de Calidad Asistencial) (SECA) and is a tool for the dissemination of knowledge and reflection for the quality management of health services in Primary Care, as well as in Hospitals. It publishes articles associated with any aspect of research in the field of public health and health administration, including health education, epidemiology, medical statistics, health information, health economics, quality management, and health policies. The Journal publishes 6 issues, exclusively in electronic format. The Journal publishes, in Spanish, Original works, Special and Review Articles, as well as other sections. Articles are subjected to a rigorous, double blind, review process (peer review)