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El carácter crónico de la cirrosis hepática y sus severas complicaciones, entre las que se incluyen la incapacidad del propio paciente para llevar a cabo sus autocuidados, hacen recomendable la identificación y asignación de un cuidador principal que conviva con el paciente y sepa reconocer la aparición de los trastornos propios de la enfermedad. Sin embargo, para ello es preciso que, tanto el cuidador principal como el propio paciente, dispongan de la información adecuada sobre los hábitos dietéticos y sobre las medidas de control y observación necesarias que se han de seguir, una vez que la enfermedad ha sido diagnosticada. El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar el grado de conocimiento que tiene el cuidador principal del paciente cirrótico sobre la enfermedad para, a partir de aquí, elaborar estrategias y protocolos de educación sanitaria, que permitan evitar innecesarias hospitalizaciones o frenar, en la medida de lo posible, las complicaciones que el curso de la citada patología conlleva. Y también determinar el cansancio en el rol del cuidador, como diagnóstico de la NANDA. Hemos hallado un porcentaje significativo de cuidadores principales que desconocen la correlación existente entre el estreñimiento y la encefalopatía hepática y algunos datos de una insuficiente información. Abstract The chronic character of the liver cirrhosis and its severe complications, including the patient inability to take care of himself, makes recommendable the availability of a caregiver living with the patient. This caregiver should be able to recognize the usual disorders associated to the cirrhosis. Additionally, an adequate information about the dietary habits and other recommended measures is mandatory for both the caregiver and patient to keep under control all the complications which appears once the illness has been diagnosed. The objective of the present study was to explore the knowledge of the cirrhotic patient’s caregiver regarding this illness. This was intended as a first step in order to develop education protocols that might reduce illness complications and the eventually avoidable hospital admissions. It also tried to explore and determine the fatigue of the personal caregiver in her role, as a diagnosis of the NANDA. We found a significant percentage of caregivers who were not aware of the relationship between constipation and encephalopaty as well as other data indicating insufficient education of the caregivers. Centro de Trabajo: (*) Diplomados Universitarios de Enfermería y (**) Supervisora de Enfermería. Servicio de Digestivo. Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar. Cádiz. España Fecha del Trabajo: 15/06/2004 Palabra Clave: Cirrosis, cuidador, conocimientos, enfermería Key Words: Cirrhosis, caregiver, knowledge, nursing

The chronic character of the liver cirrhosis and its severe complications, including the patient inability to take care of himself, makes recommendable the availability of a caregiver living with the patient. This caregiver should be able to recognize the usual disorders associated to the cirrhosis. Additionally, an adequate information about the dietary habits and other recommended measures is mandatory for both the caregiver and patient to keep under control all the complications which appears once the illness has been diagnosed.The objective of the present study was to explore the knowledge of the cirrhotic patient’s caregiver regarding this illness. This was intended as a first step in order to develop education protocols that might reduce illness complications and the eventually avoidable hospital admissions. It also tried to explore and determine the fatigue of the personal caregiver in her role, as a diagnosis of the NANDA.We found a significant percentage of caregivers who were not aware of the relationship between constipation and encephalopaty as well as other data indicating insufficient education of the caregivers.