Analysis of the transition process among family caregivers in a hospital in the region of Catalonia in Spain

Purpose The aim of this study is to explore and understand the experience of the adaptation process among family caregivers in hospitals, who have an active presence in hospital and are essential in ensuring proper patient care. Methods A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of caregivers' lived experiences. Data were collected using in-depth interviews to explore six caregivers' experiences of hospitalization. Results The caregivers' accounts highlight the different determining factors in the transition process of a chronically ill patient's family caregiver during the patient's time in hospital. The most important themes emerging from the analysis were the importance of cultural beliefs and attitudes, meaning of the situation, caregiver's training and knowledge, socio-economic status and the hospital as a community. These categories can be analyzed using transitions theory. Conclusions The most important conclusion is that the hospital in this study was not designed to accommodate caregivers, and the mechanisms used to meet caregivers' needs endanger their privacy, health, and coexistence in the hospital's rooms. Transitions theory provides a holistic understanding of the experience of the family caregiver.