Health literacy of caregivers for caring in a family context

Abstract

Healthcare must provide an appropriate response to individual and family needs, engaging the community, promoting shared responsibility, and aligning existing resources with citizen requirements. Individuals in situations of dependency often rely on family caregivers, necessitating family adjustments and specific training to fulfil the caregiver role. The present study aimed to analyse the relationship between satisfaction with social support and the burden on informal caregivers. This observational study employed a cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive-correlational approach. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire. A total of 51 informal caregivers participated in the study. Of these caregivers, 78.4% were women, 29.4% had a medium/low level of education, and 52.9% assumed the role of informal caregiver for five or more years. We observed some level of burden in 80.4% of informal caregivers, with a more significant impact on those who had assumed the caregiver role for approximately 1-2 years. The most sought-after support involved social support for economic assistance (76.5%) and caring for the family member (49%). The study highlights the importance of nurses implementing interventions to enhance caregivers' knowledge, promote health literacy regarding social support, and facilitate group dynamics, allowing informal caregivers to share experiences and navigate situational transitions.