El trabajo que se presenta tiene como objetivo analizar las semejanzas y diferencias en la salud y en la calidad de vida de los cuidadores familiares y profesionales que atienden a personas mayores en situación de dependencia. Concretamente se presentan los resultados obtenidos tras la evaluación de 600 cuidadores de los cuales un 33,83% son familiares y un 66,17% son profesionales, a quienes se evaluó la carga o estrés experimentado, la salud física y psicológica y la calidad de vida general, laboral, familiar y social. Los resultados obtenidos indican que existen diferencias entre ambos grupos de cuidadores. Los familiares dedicados al cuidado presentan mayores niveles de sobrecarga y tienen una peor salud física y psicológica como consecuencia de la atención prestada al dependiente. Los cuidadores profesionales experimentan una mayor satisfacción con la vida en general y con otros factores como el trabajo, la familia y las relaciones sociales. Finalmente se justifica la necesidad de poner en marcha intervenciones de mejora de la salud de los cuidadores.Palabras clave: Cuidadores, sobrecarga, salud, calidad de vida, dependencia.Health and quality of life of family and professional caregivers of dependent elderly: a comparative study. The work presented aims to analyze the similarities and differences in health and quality of life of family caregivers and professionals serving seniors in a position of dependency. Specifically, the results presented were obtained from the evaluation of 600 caregivers, of which 33.83% are family and 66.17% are professionals, to determine their burden or stress experienced, as well as their physical and psychological health and their overall, work, family and social quality of life. The results indicate that there are differences between the two groups of caregivers. The family caregivers have higher levels of overload and have poorer physical and psychological health as a result of their tasks. Professional caregivers experience greater satisfaction with life in general and in other factors such as work, family and social relationships. Finally, this justifies the need to implement interventions to improve the health of caregivers.

En el presente artículo se discute acerca de los factores psicosociales asociados al autocuidado en el cáncer de mama durante la prevención, el tratamiento y el postratamiento. El autocuidado se refiere a un conjunto de actividades que la persona realiza de manera consciente para mantener su vida, su salud y su bienestar, y es necesario que sea incentivado durante todas las etapas de la enfermedad. Se presentan distintos modelos teóricos-Modelo de Creencias de la Salud, Teoría de la Acción Razonada y Modelo de Autorregulación en Salud-que intentan entender cómo y porqué las personas se cuidan en situaciones de enfermedad crónica y su aplicación en el cáncer de mama. Por último, se reflexiona sobre la importancia del estado de ánimo de la mujer afectada, de la familia y de las intervenciones psicológicas para fomentar el autocuidado en las distintas etapas de la enfermedad.

The work presented aims to analyze the similarities and differences in health and quality of life of family caregivers and professionals serving seniors in a position of dependency. Specifically, the results presented were obtained from the evaluation of 600 caregivers, of which 33.83% are family and 66.17% are professionals, to determine their burden or stress experienced, as well as their physical and psychological health and their overall, work, family and social quality of life. The results indicate that there are differences between the two groups of caregivers. The family caregivers have higher levels of overload and have poorer physical and psychological health as a result of their tasks. Professional caregivers experience greater satisfaction with life in general and in other factors such as work, family and social relationships. Finally, this justifies the need to implement interventions to improve the health of caregivers.

The work presented aims to analyze the similarities and differences in health and quality of life of family caregivers and professionals serving seniors in a position of dependency. Specifically, the results presented were obtained from the evaluation of 600 caregivers, of which 33.83% are family and 66.17% are professionals, to determine their burden or stress experienced, as well as their physical and psychological health and their overall, work, family and social quality of life. The results indicate that there are differences between the two groups of caregivers. The family caregivers have higher levels of overload and have poorer physical and psychological health as a result of their tasks. Professional caregivers experience greater satisfaction with life in general and in other factors such as work, family and social relationships. Finally, this justifies the need to implement interventions to improve the health of caregivers.

No abstract