title: [Care and implications for caregivers of surgical patients at home].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 burden for 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 contribute to the need of providing care and the appearance of consequences for the caregivers in the home.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal observational study with follow-up at admission, at discharge and 10 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-R based on the model by Virginia Henderson, was used to measure the care provided by informal caregivers 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 without any previous experience as caregivers. The greater intensity of care and impact was observed in the time when they arrived home after hospital discharge (p<0.05). The predictive variables of repercussions were being a dependent patient before the surgical intervention (β=2.93, p=0.007), having a cancer diagnosis (β=2.87, p<.001) and time dedicated to the care process (β=0.07, p=0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregivers involved in the surgical process provide a great amount of care at home depending on the characteristics of patients they care for, and it affects their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Epidemiología clínica, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Vic, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: echirveches@chv.cat.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chirveches-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Vic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roca-Closa
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Epidemiología clínica, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Vic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puigoriol-Juvanteny
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública, Mental y Maternoinfantil, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ubeda-Bonet
authors.affiliation: Dirección de Cuidados, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Vic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Subirana-Casacuberta
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Cuidados de Salud (Investén-isciii), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Moreno-Casbas
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care
keywords: Calidad de vida; Caregivers; Cirugía; Cuidadores; Dependencia; Dependency; Enfermería; Hospitalización; Hospitalization; Nursing; Quality of life; Surgery