Introduction:

Health psychology confers relevance to the study of primary caregivers, being a group vulnerable to suffering from physical and psychological conditions.

Objective:

To identify preparedness and competence in primary caregivers, to identify possible factors associated with preparedness, and to describe caregiver preparedness as perceived by the patient.

Methods:

The study was carried out at the Hospital General Docente Héroes de Baire of the municipality Isla de la Juventud, during the period January-October 2021. A mixed methodology was used; the sample was conformed according to each stage. The techniques used were the semi-structured interview, the Need for Care Preparation Scale, the Perceived Competence for Care Scale and the composition. Among the statistical procedures applied were the Chi-square test and Spearman's correlation. Also, Bardin's thematic content analysis.

Results:

The 44.3 % of the subjects were moderately prepared for caregiving and the 71.4% were highly competent. Four factors were found to be associated with preparedness. The correlation between preparedness and competence was significant, with a Chi-square of 69.019 and p=0.000. According to the perception of the ill family member, primary caregivers should be prepared about the physical and emotional aspects of the disease, as well as to ask for support.

Conclusions:

The primary caregivers of oncogeriatric patients studied guarantee care according to the preparation and competence achieved for caregiving.

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