OBJECTIVES: To identify the type of care provided by informal carers of dependent persons and the repercussions this care might have on the health of the carers, and to find the characteristics of both informal carers and cared-for people.
DESIGN: An observational cross-sectional study.
SETTING: This study was conducted in various towns in the province of Barcelona between January and December 1997 in primary health care.
PARTICIPANTS: Those taking part were 240 informal carers (IC) for dependent persons.
