Religiousness is positively associated with quality of life of ALS caregivers

Abstract

It has been repeatedly shown that religiousness and spirituality have positive effects on quality of life (QoL) and outcome in ALS patients. There are, however, very few data on the impact of religiousness/spirituality on ALS caregivers. We determined the impact of religiousness on caregivers and its correlation with quality of life, depression and anxiety. A total of 75 consecutive ALS patients and their informal caregivers were interviewed using tests evaluating religiousness, depression, anxiety, quality of life and satisfaction with life. Results showed that there was a significant correlation between patients and caregivers' public and total religiousness. Caregivers' private religiousness was related to their age and education level, while their public religiousness was related only to their education level. Caregivers' quality of life was related to their private religiousness and satisfaction with life with their total religiousness. We conclude that religiousness is positively associated with ALS caregivers' quality of life and satisfaction with life, in a measure similar to that observed in ALS patients. Health care professionals caring for ALS patients should consider that the needs of the caregivers include religious/spiritual concerns.

Key words::

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• religiousness
• quality of life caregivers

Acknowledgements

We thank the patients and their families who accepted to participate in this study. The study was supported by Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata, Regione Piemonte, 2004 (to AC) and Progetti Alfieri 2007, Fondazione CRT, Torino, Italy (to EM).

Disclosure of interest

A. Chiò serves on the editorial advisory board of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and has received research support from Ministero della Salute (Progetti Finalizzati), Regione Piemonte (Progetti Finalizzati), Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca (PRIN 2007), Università di Torino (fondi ex 60%), Fondazione Vialli and Mauro for ALS Research, ONLUS, and Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. A. Calvo has received research support from Regione Piemonte (Ricerca Finalizzata). E. Mastro received research support from Fondazione CRT, Torino.