title: Analysis of the transition process among family caregivers in a hospital in the region of Catalonia in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to explore and understand the experience of the adaptation process among family caregivers in hospitals, who have an active presence in hospital and are essential in ensuring proper patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of caregivers' lived experiences. Data were collected using in-depth interviews to explore six caregivers' experiences of hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The caregivers' accounts highlight the different determining factors in the transition process of a chronically ill patient's family caregiver during the patient's time in hospital. The most important themes emerging from the analysis were the importance of cultural beliefs and attitudes, meaning of the situation, caregiver's training and knowledge, socio-economic status and the hospital as a community. These categories can be analyzed using transitions theory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most important conclusion is that the hospital in this study was not designed to accommodate caregivers, and the mechanisms used to meet caregivers' needs endanger their privacy, health, and coexistence in the hospital's rooms. Transitions theory provides a holistic understanding of the experience of the family caregiver.
authors: Joan XXIII University Hospital of Tarragona, Department of Nursing, Rovira i Virgili University, 13-15, Remolins Avenue, Tortosa, 43500, Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: gerard.mora@urv.cat.
authors: Gerard
authors: G
authors: Mora-López
authors: Department of Nursing, University Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona), 34 Catalunya Avenue, Tarragona, 43002, Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: carme.ferre@urv.cat.
authors: Carme
authors: C
authors: Ferré-Grau
authors: Department of Nursing, University Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona), 13-15, Remolins Avenue, Tortosa 43500, Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: mariapilar.monteso@urv.cat.
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Montesó-Curto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care; D013030:Spain
keywords: Caregiver; Chronic disease; Hospital administration; Nursing care; Qualitative research