Factors affecting caregiver burden of terminally ill adults in the home setting - A systematic review.

Abstract

Review question/ Objectives: The objective of this systematic review is to identify the factors that may increase or decrease caregiver burden of a terminally ill adult in the home setting. Review question: What are the factors affecting caregiver burden when caring for a terminally ill adult in the home setting? CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERING STUDIES FOR THIS REVIEW Types of Participants: Inclusion criteria This review will consider adult participants (above age 18) who are the primary caregivers of a terminally ill adult in the home setting. The caregiver should be an unpaid person, such as a family member or friend of the terminally ill person. Participants of the study should also be the direct caregivers themselves. The terminally ill person receiving care is not limited to any particular diagnosis, but has to be certified as being terminally ill by the case doctor. The terminally ill person may enter a healthcare institution at any point in time during the course of his/her illness, but has to be predominantly living at home. Types of interventions:  There is no single intervention of interest. The systematic review will consider studies that focus on caregiving of a terminally ill adult. Types of outcome measures/anticipated outcomes: The outcome of interest would be the factors that lead to the increase or decrease in caregiver burden of the terminally ill person. This includes studies that report on the challenges faced by caregivers leading to an increase in caregiver burden, such as limited finances, limited knowledge of care, and lack of support13, 14, or factors that contribute to a decrease in burden, such as hope, and sense of coherence19. 6 Studies that report on the effects of caregiver burden and studies on the quality of life of caregivers will be excluded from the review.