title: Views on the Effects of the Spanish Dependency Law on Caregivers' Quality of Life Using Concept Mapping.
abstract: In 2006 the Spanish Dependency Law established new rights for people in situation of dependency. The impact of the Law could have also affected the quality of life of their carers. This study aims to understand how the Law may have influenced caregivers' quality of life through their own perceptions and those of Primary Health Care professionals, and to compare both perspectives. The study used Concept Mapping, a mixed methods technique. In total, 16 caregivers and 21 professionals participated. Both groups identified a mix of positive and negative effects. Uncertainties and delays in granting benefits were reported. However, several advantages were identified, such as the possibility of sharing the burden of care, thus reducing its physical, mental and social consequences, while at the same time being able to maintain responsibility. Most of the mechanisms identified were common to both caregivers and professionals; the most notable differences were that the latter attached more importance to economic support and less to the negative effects of implementation of the Law. This study reveals positive effects of the Law on caregivers' quality of life and the potential for improvement of some negative aspects in its implementation related with the context of austerity.
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|2 Training Unit in Preventive Medicine and Public Health PSMar-UPF-ASPB, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvador-Piedrafita
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|4 CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|5 Institute of Biomedical Reserach (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malmusi
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|6 School of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Roshanak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehdipanah
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.|4 CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|5 Institute of Biomedical Reserach (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Sanz
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|4 CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|7 Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espelt
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: 8 Primary Care Health Center El Carmel, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solf
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abajo Del Rincón
authors.affiliation: 1 Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|3 Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.|4 CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|5 Institute of Biomedical Reserach (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borrell
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011788:Quality of Life; D013030:Spain
keywords: Spain; concept mapping; informal caregivers; public policies; quality of life