Factors associated with the skills of informal caregivers in home care

A cross-sectional study carried out with a sample of 216 informal caregivers residing in a municipality in the state of Paraná. Data collection took place between February and July 2019, with an instrument developed and validated to assess the skills of informal caregivers. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used.

Results:

The factors associated with a greater competence of informal caregivers were being female, having training in the field, and having more than five years home care experience. The lowest competence was observed in caregivers who had health problems and belonged to the lowest strata of family purchasing power. Participants had lower scores in psychomotor competence and had better results in cognitive competence.

Conclusion:

It was found that women with experience in care had higher levels of competence to provide quality care at home assistance services.

Descriptors:
Caregivers; Family; Home Nursing; Clinical Competence; Chronic Disease

	n	%
Age
18-29	7	3.2
30-39	17	7.9
40-49	29	13.4
50-59	62	28.7
≥ 60	101	46.8
Gender
Female	181	83.8
Male	35	16.2
Marital status
With partner	119	55.1
Without partner	97	44.9
Educational level
Without education	16	7.4
Elemental school I (< 5 years)	81	37.5
Elemental school II (5 to 9 years)	32	14.8
High School (10 to 12 years)	73	33.8
College (>12 years)	14	6.5
Socioeconomic class
AB	55	25.5
C	128	59.3
DE	33	15.3
Family income**
Up to 2 Minimum ages	134	62.1
3 to 5	75	34.7
6 to 9	5	2.3
10 or more	2	0.9
Family relation
Partner	49	22.7
Children	96	44.4
Sisters/Brothers	17	7.9
Parent	24	11.1
Others	30	13.9
Health problem
No	82	38.0
Yes	134	62.0
Time caring for the patient
Up to 5 years	89	41.2
More than 5 years	127	58.8
Training
No	202	93.5
Yes	14	6.5
Cares for more than one dependent person
No	182	84.3
Yes	34	15.7

	M±SD	CI 95%	Competency Level
How do you rate your knowledge to:
Identify the physical limitations of the person you care for (C)	4.03±0.91	3.91-4.16	BC
Identify signs and symptoms of the worsening of the health of the person you care for (P)	3.13±1.16	2.96-3.32	CR
Identify the feeding needs of the person you care for (P)	3.68±1.13	3.51-3.83	CR
Identify signs and symptoms of dehydration in the person you care for (P)	2.42±1.42	2.20-2.59	CR
Identify the medications that the person you care for uses (C)	3.76±1.21	3.60-3.91	CR
Identify facial expressions that the person you care for may show (R)	4.22±1.00	4.06-4.36	BC
Recognize signs of changes in the person you care for regarding evacuations (P)	2.85±1.36	2.67-3.00	CR
Composite index - Knowledge	3.44±0.72	3.34-3.54	CR
How adapted do you feel:
To the daily care routine (E)	3.74±1.18	3.58-3.89	CR
To exercise the role of caregiver (E)	3.76±1.17	3.59-3.91	CR
Composite index - Adaptation	3.75±1.07	3.62-3.89	CR
How do you feel about your preparation for:
Administering/Offering medication (C)	4.21±1.12	4.07-4.36	BC
Assessing the body temperature of the person you care for (P)	3.41±1.37	3.23-3.61	CR
Changing the clothes of the person you care for (C)	3.93±1.26	3.76-4.12	BC
Communicating with the person you care for (R)	4.07±1.05	3.93-4.22	BC
Encouraging the autonomy of the person you care for (R)	3.44±1.41	3.25-3.61	CR
Composite index - Preparation	3.81±0.76	3.71-3.93	BC
Cognitive skills	3.98±0.80	3.87-4.11	BC
Psychomotor skills	3.26±0.80	3.14-3.39	CR
Relational skills	3.91±0.80	3.78-4.01	BC
Emotional competences	3.75±1.07	3.59-3.90	CR

	Total		Cognitive Competence			Psychomotor competence			Cognitive Competence			Cognitive Competence
	n	%	M±SD	Ranks	p	M±SD	Ranks	p	M±SD	Ranks	p	M±SD	Ranks	p
Age
18-29 years	7	3.2	4.26±0.75	89.9	0.017	3.43±0.91	88.2	0.007	4.06±0.90	105.6	0.073	3.63±1.30	143.1	0.252
30-39 years	17	7.9	3.71±0.92	96.2		3.00±0.59	126.5		3.80±1.06	121.3		4.35±0.62	92.0
40-49 years	29	13.4	3.77±1.00	132.8		3.52±0.90	119.4		4.11±0.63	123.8		3.50±1.08	105.4
50-59 years	62	28.7	4.17±0.65	121.7		3.52±0.84	125.9		4.04±0.75	119.0		3.93±0.92	117.5
> 60 years	101	46.8	3.83±0.82	96.8		3.03±0.95	93.0		3.75±0.80	95.7		3.67±1.10	104.2
Gender
Female	181	83.8	4.08±0.73	115.2	0.000	3.37±0.88	114.3	0.002	3.98±0.77	114.6	0.001	3.77±1.06	109.0	0.790
Male	35	16.2	3.45±0.96	73.7	0.000	2.80±0.99	78.4	0.002	3.47±0.87	77.0	0.001	3.68±1.10	106.0	0.790
Marital status
With companion	119	55.1	3.95±0.82	107.4	0.762	3.26±0.95	108.6	0.963	3.80±0.79	100.6	0.039	3.81±1.10	112.5	0.281
Without companion	97	44.9	4.00±0.79	109.7	0.762	3.30±0.90	108.2	0.963	4.02±0.82	118.1	0.039	3.68±1.02	103.5	0.281
Educational level
Without education	16	7.4	3.71±0.87	88.4	0.069	2.62±0.74	65.8	0.001	3.81±0.67	96.5	0.315	3.37±1.27	89.7	0.361
Elementary school I	81	37.5	3.89±0.78	101.1		3.09±1.00	96.3		3.76±0.85	99.9		3.81±1.08	113.7
Elementary school II	32	14.8	4.09±0.87	120.0		3.45±0.80	120.7		4.11±0.74	124.1		3.59±1.18	100.8
High school	73	33.8	3.99±0.79	109.1		3.45±0.86	118.7		3.95±0.78	112.1		3.78±0.97	106.2
College	14	6.5	4.38±0.62	144.8		3.90±0.68	146.9		4.07±0.98	117.9		4.15±0.85	129.6
Family income^ Categorization of monthly household income estimates for socioeconomic strata based on the purchasing power of the household head: AB (good conditions), C (regular conditions), and DE (low conditions).
Up to 2 minimum wages	134	62.0	3.92±0.78	103.9	0.489	3.18±0.91	102.3	0.261	3.93±0.82	111.2	0.738	3.67±1.09	104.2	0.622
3 to 5	75	34.7	4.04±0.87	116.1		3.42±0.95	117.1		3.86±0.76	104.0		3.88±1.01	115.7
6 to 9	5	2.3	4.25±0.55	126.0		3.60±0.80	129.5		3.93±1.14	116.7		3.90±1.14	115.8
10 or more	2	0.9	3.87±0.17	90.8		3.75±0.35	145.0		3.50±1.17	76.8		3.75±1.76	110.5
Occupation
Employee	44	20.4	4.03±0.92	114.4		3.46±0.92	120.3		4.00±0.85	117.1		3.81±1.09	111.3	0.522
Unemployed	101	46.8	4.02±0.76	112.5	0.302	3.42±0.89	117.7	0.003	3.98±0.75	114.0	0.092	3.85±0.98	112.1
Retired	71	32.9	3.88±0.89	99.2	0.302	2.97±0.91	88.2	0.003	3.71±0.85	95.5	0.092	3.59±1.16	101.7
Purchasing power^ Categorization of monthly household income estimates for socioeconomic strata based on the purchasing power of the household head: AB (good conditions), C (regular conditions), and DE (low conditions).
AB	55	25.5	4.12±0.62	115.8	0.019	3.54±0.85	126.1	0.003	3.94±0.78	111.7	0.305	4.09±0.87	123.8	0.023
C	128	59.2	4.00±0.85	112.6		3.28±0.96	108.6		3.92±0.84	111.1		3.73±1.03	107.5
DE	33	15.3	3.63±0.81	80.7		2.84±0.77	78.7		3.73±0.73	93.2		3.28±1.29	86.9
Family ties
Parent	24	11.1	3.80±1.02	98.2	0.002	3.47±0.95	120.4	0.018	4.21±0.76	136.0	0.012	3.56±1.35	98.9	0.934
Children	96	44.4	4.22±0.71	127.9		3.48±0.88	120.8		3.98±0.84	116.4		3.80±0.99	109.7
Sisters/Brothers	17	7.9	3.92±0.61	93.2		3.28±0.65	109.0		3.75±0.80	94.9		3.71±1.12	105.2
Companion	49	22.7	3.82±0.72	93.3		3.00±1.03	91.6		3.67±0.71	87.9		3.75±0.10	109.3
Others	30	13.9	3.58±0.92	88.2		2.93±0.80	86.8		3.86±0.82	102.7		3.78±1.06	112.8
Capacitation
No	202	93.5	3.97±0.79	105.0	0.002	3.27±0.94	103.7	0.000	3.88±0.83	105.9	0.020	3.74±1.11	104.6	0.000
Yes	14	6.5	3.97±0.83	158.8	0.002	3.29±0.91	178.5	0.000	3.93±0.78	145.9	0.020	3.77±1.01	165.4	0.000
Health problems
Yes	134	62.0	3.95±0.75	105.0	0.285	3.22±0.90	104.8	0.266	3.86±0.82	106.3	0.505	3.62±1.08	101.6	0.035
No	82	38.0	4.00±0.88	114.3	0.285	3.37±0.96	114.5	0.266	3.97±0.78	112.1	0.505	3.97±1.02	119.8	0.035
Takes care of someone else
No	182	84.3	3.94±.079	105.9	0.164	3.21±0.93	104.7	0.038	3.84±0.82	104.1	0.016	3.68±1.09	105.3	0.077
Yes	34	15.7	4.14±0.87	122.1	0.164	3.62±0.84	128.8	0.038	4.21±0.66	132.0	0.016	4.13±0.84	125.5	0.077
Time caring for someone
Up to 5 years	89	41.2	3.83±0.80	95.7	0.012	3.07±0.95	95.6	0.011	3.80±0.84	101.4	0.164	3.61±1.00	99.1	0.060
More than 5 years	127	58.8	4.08±0.79	117.4	0.012	3.40±0.89	117.5	0.011	3.98±0.78	113.4	0.164	3.85±	115.0	0.060

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[1] Corresponding author: Fernanda Gatez Trevisan dos Santos E-mail: fer.gatez@gmail.com