Characterising and the perception of the burden of family caregivers for people suffering chronic disease in Arauca

Se caracterizó un grupo de cuidadores familiares de personas con enfermedad crónica (ECNT) que asisten al Hospital San Vicente de Arauca y determinar su percepción del nivel de carga con el cuidado, a través de un estudio de tipo descriptivo, cuantitativo de corte transversal, realizado con un muestreo no probabilístico intencional de 42 cuidadores familiares de personas captados entre los meses de agosto a octubre del año 2012. Este estudio hace parte del Programa Disminución de la carga de la Enfermedad Crónica en Colombia.La descripción de las características socio demográficas y de salud de los cuidadores familiares de personas con ECNT y de los receptores de sus cuidados que asisten al Hospital San Vicente de Arauca, permiten aproximarse a sus condiciones de cuidado. Con respecto a la percepción del nivel de carga con el cuidado, el 83% de los cuidadores familiares considera que no tiene sobrecarga, el 7% una sobrecarga leve y el 10% una sobrecarga intensa.Palabras clave: Cuidadores; Costos de la enfermedad; Enfermedad Crónica (Decs).A group of family caregivers caring for people suffering from non-transmissible chronic diseases (NTCD) attending the San Vicente Hospital in Arauca was characterised and their perception regarding the level of care burden was determined by using a cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive study involving intentional, non-probabilistic sampling of 42 family caregivers of people suffering NTCD, capturing spatial data concerning them between August and October 2012. This study forms part of the Reducing Chronic Disease Burden Programme in Colombia.The description of the socio-demographic characteristics and health data regarding the family caregivers of people suffering NTCD and those receiving their care attending San Vicente Hospital in Arauca led to an approach being made to assessing their care conditions. Regarding perception of care burden level, 83% of the family caregivers considered that they were not overburdened, 7% were slightly overburdened and 10% were intensely overburdened.Key words: Caregiver; disease cost; chronic disease (Decs)