Background: After the Functional Plan was implemented with support measures for caregivers in hospitals of Granada (Spain), the effectiveness and impact of environment on the perception and needs of caregivers was analysed.
Materials and methods: A qualitative, phenomenological study was made through semi-structured interviews. A total of 45 caregivers included in the Functional Plan took part. In addition, perceived social support, family functioning, and anxiety level were measured, respectively, through the Duke-UNC, Apgar Family, and Goldberg Scale questionnaires. The data were qualitatively analysed by open, axial, and selective coding, and the questionnaires by descriptive statistics.
Results: The caregivers of the urban setting valued the support that made their life easier in hospital and the social support received at home more highly, while caregivers in rural settings valued hospital support oriented towards education in care for life after returning home, all linked to the personalization of care. Personal disturbances due to care occurred in all settings, although differences appeared in psychic repercussions and in the type of drugs and their consumption. There were differences in terms of support needed and the difficulties encountered.
Conclusions: The setting where caregivers live determines their perceptions of care and some of their needs in the hospital. The measures questioned in the Functional Plan should be reviewed and some priorities should be redefined, including additional measures, depending on the family situation of the caregivers.