Abstract

Objective

Recent shifts in healthcare delivery and treatment for solid tumour cancer patients have modified the responsibilities of informal caregivers. The objective of this study was to: review informal caregiver burden factors and determine areas where future research is needed.

Methods

The Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and a modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were used in conducting this review. Research literature was systematically searched using five-electronic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane, CINAHL, and SCOPUS, and reference lists from included studies to identify publications since 2010. Inclusion criterion was caregivers providing home-based care to a cancer patient.

Results

The search yielded 43 eligible papers of 2119 reviewed, including articles from over 17 countries. Caregiver physical and psychological health, financial strain, and social isolation, as well as limited family and social support continued to be important factors contributing to high levels of caregiver burden. Less recognised factors affecting higher burden included caregivers’ self-esteem, male gender, and the dynamic nature of cancer treatment.

Conclusions

This review updates the state of the science on informal caregiver burden when caring for patients with solid tumour cancers and informs future interventions on how to reduce this burden.

中文翻译：

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实体瘤癌症患者的非正式照料者负担：回顾与未来方向

摘要

目的

对实体瘤癌症患者的医疗保健和治疗的最新变化已经改变了非正式护理人员的职责。这项研究的目的是：审查非正式的照料者负担因素，并确定需要进一步研究的领域。

方法

Arksey和O'Malley的框架以及用于系统评价和元分析的经过修改的“首选报告项目”均用于进行此评价。我们使用五种电子数据库系统搜索了研究文献，包括PubMed，PsycINFO，Cochrane，CINAHL和SCOPUS，并从纳入研究的参考文献清单中确定了自2010年以来的出版物。纳入标准是照顾者为癌症患者提供家庭护理。

结果

通过搜索，共获得2119篇符合条件的43篇论文，其中包括来自17个国家的文章。照料者的身心健康，财务压力和社会隔离，以及有限的家庭和社会支持仍然是造成照料者负担高的重要因素。尚未意识到的影响高负担的因素包括看护者的自尊，男性性别和癌症治疗的动态性。

结论

这篇评论更新了在照顾实体瘤癌症患者时非正式照料者负担的科学状况，并为将来如何减轻这种负担的干预措施提供了信息。