Quality of life among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia: a cross-cultural comparison of Chilean and French families.
BACKGROUND
To our knowledge, no study has examined quality of life (QoL) among caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia between a developing and a developed country. The aim of this study was to assess QoL of the caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in two countries characterized by different social, economic and cultural conditions, namely Chile and France.


METHODS
Data were collected from public mental health outpatient services in Arica (Chile), and in Marseille (France). QoL was measured with the short-form health survey scale - 36 items (SF36). QoL of 41 Chilean caregivers was firstly compared with 245 French caregivers. Univariate and multivariate analyses using linear regression were then performed to determine variables potentially related to QoL scores.


RESULTS
The caregivers were primarily mothers in the two groups, but Chilean caregivers were younger, and lived more frequently with the individual with schizophrenia than French caregivers. The SF36 scores were globally low in the two groups, especially on the mental QoL scores. Chilean caregivers reported lower physical SF36 scores than French caregivers. In the multivariate analysis, being mother and Chilean caregivers were the most regular features associating to a lower QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite differences between Chile and France, especially in terms of quality and quantity of mental health services and economic supports, caregivers' QoL levels remain particularly low for both countries. Future support programmes should address the specific needs of caregivers.
Aix-Marseille University, EA 3279 Research Unit, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, Marseille, 13284, France. laurent.boyer@ap-hm.fr
Laurent
L
Boyer
Alejandra
A
Caqueo-Urízar
Raphaelle
R
Richieri
Christophe
C
Lancon
José
J
Gutiérrez-Maldonado
Pascal
P
Auquier
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002677:Chile; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires