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Caring for people who take care: What is already done?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2021

Carolina Oliveira Open the ORCID record for Carolina Oliveira [Opens in a new window] ,
Gabriela Fonseca ,
Neide P. Areia ,
Luciana Sotero  and
Ana Paula Relvas
Carolina Oliveira*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Gabriela Fonseca
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Neide P. Areia
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Luciana Sotero
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Ana Paula Relvas
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
*
Author for correspondence: Carolina Oliveira, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal. E-mail: carolina.arc.oliveira@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

The growing prevalence and impact of cancer on the family system calls for a palliative care approach with the family as the unit of care. This study aimed at providing an overview of the intervention programs that have been developed to offer support to the family caregivers of oncologic patients receiving palliative care.

Method

Sixteen articles were included in the final review, encompassing (i) studies focused on intervention programs with family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care, (ii) studies including a pre- and post-test evaluation of the intervention program, (iii) and studies whose cancer patients were at least 18 years old.

Results

A great heterogeneity was verified with respect to care settings, number of sessions, outcome measures, or timing of assessment within the reviewed programs. These findings mirrored the complexity of the palliative care approach, which is difficult to standardize. Nonetheless, some interventions with different features accomplished good and sometimes similar results. The studies’ main outcomes were clustered in five categories: psychological symptomatology, general quality of life, caregiving role, family relational variables, and bereavement/grief. Moreover, 44% of the main outcomes were psychological symptomatology of family caregivers, with an emphasis toward anxiety and depression. Also shown was a growing emergence of technology use among these interventions.

Significance of results

Results revealed a scarcity of family-oriented programs and lack of certified mental health professionals as interventionists. Future studies and interventions should focus on the positive outcomes of the caregiving experience and must acknowledge the cultural differences when trying to replicate programs. Considering that there is no precise formula for dealing with terminal illness and grief, we submit that family-centered and systemic lenses are excellent approaches for support during this adjustment process. In conclusion, the present study advocates for increased investment in the field, underscoring the importance of family caregivers’ mental health.

Keywords

Cancer patientsCritical reviewFamily caregiversIntervention programsPalliative care
Type
Review Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 20 , Issue 5 , October 2022 , pp. 720 - 730
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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