Predictor Variables of Caregiving Competencies in Informal Care Providers of Chronically ill Persons

Abstract

Objective: To identify predictor variables of caregiving competencies in informal care providers of people with chronic diseases. Methods: cross-sectional analytical study, 210 informal caregivers participated. Caring competence, overload, depression and dependence of the caregiver were measured. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied through multiple linear regression analysis. Results: 82.9% of the informal care providers were women; the main relationship between them and the person with chronic disease was daughter and wife. 54.8% of the informal care providers presented a high level of caregiving competencies, 61.9%, absence of depression, 87.1%, absence of overload. Likewise, 32.9% of people with chronic diseases presented moderate dependence. Regarding overload as a predictor of caregiving competencies, a negative and significant effect was identified (χ= -0.271, p<0.001). Conclusions: based on the results, it is concluded that overload contributes to predict caregiving competencies in informal care providers of people with chronic diseases.