Introduction:

The family caretaker is the most important source of social support and requires developing skills to reinforce self-care conducts in their relatives. The aim of this study was to determine the care skills of family caretakers of patients with heart failure (HF) in an institution with tier IV level of complexity.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study, with a sample size of 41 family caretakers of people with HF attending the HF program in a tier IV health institution, during the second semester of 2016. The ‘CUIDAR’ instrument was used to collect information. Said instrument has construct validity and internal consistency tests with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93. A descriptive analysis was performed with absolute and relative distribution frequencies.

Results:

The global skill level for homecare of family caretakers of patients with HF was medium and high. The dimensions reaching the highest level of skills were enjoyment, instrumental, and procedural.

Discussion:

An adequate care skill in caretakers becomes a factor that can positively influence upon managing a person.

Conclusions:

Adequate skills of family caretakers will permit better adaptation to the new life requirements of patients with their disease and can help to prevent decompensations.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )