Background Most care for people with chronic or disabling conditions living in the community is provided in the family context, and this care is traditionally provided by women. Providing informal care has a negative impact on caregivers’ quality of life, which adds to existing health inequalities associated with gender. The aim of this study was to analyze factors associated with the health-related quality of life of caregivers and to determine their differences in a gender-differentiated analysis. Methods An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in primary healthcare. A total of 218 caregivers aged 65 years or older were included, all of whom assumed the primary responsibility for caring for people with disabling conditions for at least 6 months per year and agreed to participate in the CuidaCare study. The dependent variable was health-related quality of life, assessed with the EQ-5D. The explanatory variables tested were grouped into sociodemographic variables, subjective burden, caregiving role, social support and variables related to the dependent person. The associations between these variables and health-related quality of life were estimated by fitting robust linear regression models. Separate analyses were conducted for women and men. Results A total of 72.8% of the sample were women, and 27.2% were men. The mean score on the EQ-5D for female caregivers was 0.64 (0.31); for male caregivers, it was 0.79 (0.23). There were differences by gender in the frequency of reported problems in the dimensions of pain/comfort and anxiety/depression. The variables that were associated with quality of life also differed. Having a positive depression screening was negatively associated with quality of life for both genders: -0.31 points (95% CI: -0.47; -0.15) for female caregivers and -0.48 points (95% CI: -0.92; -0.03) for male caregivers. Perceived burden was associated with quality of life in the adjusted model for women (-0.12 points; 95% CI: -0.19; -0.06), and domestic help was associated in the adjusted model for male caregivers (-0.12 points; 95% CI: -0.19; -0.05). Conclusions Gender differences are present in informal caregiving. The impact of providing informal care is different for male and female caregivers, and so are the factors that affect their perceived quality of life. It could be useful it incorporates a gender perspective in the design of nursing support interventions for caregivers to individualize care and improve the quality of life of caregivers. Trial registration NCT 01478295 [https://ClinicalTrials.gov]. 23/11/2011.

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed lockdown measures worldwide which altered the normal way in which dependent people are cared for. Little is known about the changes that took place and the strategies adopted by family caregivers in order that they might continue their work in this new situation, characterised by uncertainty, fear and isolation. The aim of this study was to better understand the caregiving experiences of family caregivers looking after the dependent people that lived in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A qualitative research with a phenomenological approach was conducted at primary healthcare centers in the Madrid region in Spain. A total of 21 family caregivers were selected. Purposive and theoretical sampling approaches were used by nurses to recruit family caregivers from primary healthcare centers. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide to explore the caring experience during COVID-19 pandemic. Interview transcripts were evaluated using thematic analysis. Results. Two themes stemmed from the data: “Caregivers during lockdown – providing care in a time of adversity” and “Caregiving toward normality”. Caregivers contrasted life during the pandemic with the lives they had had previously. The sub-themes identified were the re-structuring of before-care services and the introduction of new care approaches, managing the dependent person’s health problems, looking after oneself and dealing with adversity. In order to adapt to the new normal, strategies were put in place designed to recover confidence and trust, reincorporate assistance and reconnect with others. Conclusions. During the COVID-19 pandemic there was an intensification of the care given to dependent people. Family caregivers undertook their work without assistance, confronting fear and putting the focus on preventing contagion and protecting themselves in order to be able to continue giving care.