Article

The goal of the present study was to assess the health-related quality
of life of a group of family caregivers of individuals with traumatic brain
injury from Guadalajara, Mexico. METHODS: Ninety family caregivers
of individuals with traumatic brain injury and 83 healthy controls completed the
Short-Form 36, a self-report health-related quality of life measure composed of 8
component areas: physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general
health, vitality, social functioning, mental health, and role-emotional. The
samples were statistically similar with respect to age, gender, marital status,
and education. However, caregivers had significantly lower household income than
controls. RESULTS: After controlling for income, results showed significantly
lower scores for traumatic brain injury caregivers compared with healthy controls
on 6 Short-Form 36 subscales: role-emotional, vitality, mental health, social
functioning, bodily pain, and general health. CONCLUSION: Caregivers of
individuals with traumatic brain injury living in Guadalajara, Mexico report
having poorer health-related quality of life across various domains including
mental and general health. Future studies should be conducted to determine which
specific factors (e.g. lack of services, physical strain of providing care) are
responsible for reduced health-related quality of life in these areas. It is
likely that resources, such as respite services, adult day-care, aides,
outpatient rehabilitation, psycho-educational programs, and support groups would
increase health-related quality of life for these individuals.

Langue : ANGLAIS