title: [Evaluation of a functional plan for caregivers in hospital].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The care of dependent persons has increased, as such that healthcare reforms are taking caregivers into account. A functional plan in hospitalization was developed for caregivers, and his study aims to investigate its implementation, identifying the strengths and weaknesses that promote changes between the formal and informal system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was designed, using nursing professionals and caregivers identified in the hospital as subjects. A focus group technique was used with 8 people selected for each segment. Two scripts were developed with questions on the evaluation criteria included in the plan: identification/recruitment, reception, rest, diet, health care, information/health education, management and implementation of the plan and other proposals. The data were collected during May 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Difficulties were encountered in identifying caregivers, as an initial evaluation was not made. As regards the reception, in some cases the information brochure was not given. Rest was not possible as the caregivers did not want to move away from the patient. Diet was the main cause of the conflict, highlighting the lack of health education to continue in home care. Circuits of preferential care in emergency were positively valuated. Nurses consider the plan as an extra task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strengths and weaknesses identified should enable improvements to be made in the implementation of the plan, in order to achieve changes in specific aspects such as information/education, health, rest and diet of the caregivers. We emphasize the need to enhance the model change.
authors.affiliation: Enfermera, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España. Electronic address: lolaquinoz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Quiñoz-Gallardo
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vellido-González
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivas-Campos
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín-Berrido
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González-Guerrero
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vellido-González
authors.forename: Rosa María
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nieto-Poyato
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Corral-Rubio
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Caregiver; Cares; Chronic diseases; Cronicidad; Cuidados; Dependence; Dependencia; Enfermería; Focus group; Grupo focal; Hospitalización; Hospitalization; Nurses; Persona cuidadora