Azadeh Eghbal Manesh - Ph.D. Candidate of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University,Tehran, Iran.
Asghar Dalvandi - Associate Professor of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences, Nursing faculty member, Tehran,Iran.
Mohammad Zoladl - Associate Professor of Nursing, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran

Introduction: Caring for schizophrenia patients is the most challenging condition for their families. Familycaregivers encounter broad-spectrum problems by a lack of caregiving preparedness. Therefore, this study aimsto identify the barriers to caregiving preparedness in family caregivers of schizophreniapatients.Methods: Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted by nine schizophrenia patients' familiesand four healthcare providers selected by purposive sampling in Iran. After explaining our goals and obtainingpermission, we recorded their voices, transcribed them for each session, analyzed them, and evaluated theirtrustworthiness.Result: The theme of "Barriers to caregiver preparedness" emerged from the data in three maincategories: wandering in the unknown, mental health inequalities in society, and role confusion. Discussion andConclusion: These findings highlighted the contextual factors that result in family caregivers' unpreparedness.Identifying these factors can help the healthcare providers appraise the caregivers for later interventions andassist the health policymakers in overcoming these barriers.

Barriers , Caregiver Preparedness , Qualitative Research , Family Caregivers , and Schizophrenia