Introduction

The increase in chronic diseases places informal caregivers at the patient’s home. Caregivers assume multiple responsibilities immersed in a set of variables that Dorothea Orem calls Conditioning Factors. The objective of this study is to describe the Basic Conditioning Factors of informal caregivers who attended a 2011-2015 training program.

Materials and Methods

Descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample size of 110 informal caregivers. A form of basic conditioning factors was designed for data collection, considering the internal and external variables proposed by Orem that were adapted to the living conditions of the informal caregivers.

Results

Prevalence of adult women, daughters, with a partner, they coexist with the ill person and there is a high perception of support according to Zimet, as well as development and family-system factors, 10-year care on average, total and serious dependence of the person in care according to Barthel, as factors inherent to the ill person’s role.

Discussion

Internal and external factors impact the caregivers’ life and may generate self-care deficits and affect their lives, health and well-being in various ways.

Conclusions

Identifying basic conditioning factors in the life of caregivers at home allows setting accompanying strategies to be used by nursing professionals and nursing students to strengthen the self-care skills of caregivers and promote the quality of life of the person in care.

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