[Mental health care: perceptions of people with schizophrenia and their carers]. / Cuidado en salud mental: percepción de personas con esquizofrenia y sus cuidadores.

The current study aims to discover the opinions of patients and their (informal and formal) carers concerning the mental health care of individuals with long term schizophrenic disorders within different contexts and cultures. It's a qualitative study with focus groups,in which 6 research centers (from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, England and Venezuela) participated. Eight focus groups were conducted in each center, totaling 303 individuals in 46 groups. The data were analyzed with the aid of the Qualitative Solutions and Research/Non-numerical Unstructured Data Indexing program (QSR NUD*IST 4.0). The perception regarding the quality of care is influenced by the professional-patient relationship and the availability of resources. Poor quality of care is also perceived as discrimination. People with schizophrenia in general consider themselves to be ostracized by professionals and services and lacking in more humanized care. In the contexts in which community care is less advanced, the complaints center on resources and services that do not meet demands. On the other hand, in more developed contexts criticism centers more on the attitude of the professionals and the professional patient relationship. Over and above the need for resources and services, people with schizophrenia require more humanized health care.

Cuidado en salud mental: percepción de personas con esquizofrenia y sus cuidadores / Mental health care: perceptions of people with schizophrenia and their carers

El presente trabajo pretende conocer la percepción de personas que sufren esquizofrenia y de sus cuidadores respecto a los cuidados ofrecidos por profesionales y servicios de salud en distintos contextos socioculturales. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo con grupos focales. Los participantes (303 individuos) provenían de servicios primarios y secundarios de salud de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, España, Inglaterra y Venezuela. Los datos fueron explorados a través del proceso de análisis de contenido, con el auxilio del programa Qualitative Solutions and Research/Non-numerical Unstructured Data Indexing (QSR NUD*IST 4.0). La percepción sobre la calidad del cuidado es influenciada por la relación profesional-paciente y por la disponibilidad de recursos. La precariedad de la atención también es entendida como discriminación. Personas con esquizofrenia en general se perciben desvalorizadas por profesionales y servicios y sienten falta de un cuidado más humanizado. En los contextos en que el cuidado comunitario es poco desarrollado, las quejas se centran en la falta de recursos y servicios. Mientras en los contextos más desarrollados las críticas están más relacionadas con la actitud de los profesionales y a la relación médico-paciente. Mas allá de la necesidad de recursos y servicios, personas con esquizofrenia requieren un cuidado más humanizado.

The current study aims to discover the opinions of patients and their (informal and formal) carers concerning the mental health care of individuals with long term schizophrenic disorders within different contexts and cultures. It's a qualitative study with focus groups,in which 6 research centers (from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, England and Venezuela) participated. Eight focus groups were conducted in each center, totaling 303 individuals in 46 groups. The data were analyzed with the aid of the Qualitative Solutions and Research/Non-numerical Unstructured Data Indexing program (QSR NUD*IST 4.0). The perception regarding the quality of care is influenced by the professional-patient relationship and the availability of resources. Poor quality of care is also perceived as discrimination. People with schizophrenia in general consider themselves to be ostracized by professionals and services and lacking in more humanized care. In the contexts in which community care is less advanced, the complaints center on resources and services that do not meet demands. On the other hand, in more developed contexts criticism centers more on the attitude of the professionals and the professionalpatient relationship. Over and above the need for resources and services, people with schizophrenia require more humanized health care.