A systematic review on the factors associated with positive experiences in carers of someone with cancer

Abstract

The aim of this review was to identify the factors associated with positive experiences in non-professional carers of someone with a cancer diagnosis. A systematic search of the following electronic databases was undertaken: Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SocINDEX and Medline. Literature was searched using terms relating to cancer, caring and positive experiences. Additional records were identified through a manual search of relevant reference lists. The search included studies published in English from 1990-June 2015. Two raters were involved in data extraction, quality appraisal, coding, synthesis, and analysis. Evolutionary concept analysis was used as a guiding framework in order to focus on attributes associated with positive experiences. Fifty two articles were included in this review. Analysis identified four overarching attributes: 'gender', 'personal resources', 'finding meaning' and 'social context'. Despite the challenges associated with caring this combination of internal and external factors enabled some carers to report positive experiences related to caring. This knowledge may be clinically helpful when designing supportive interventions. Strengths and limitations of these claims are discussed. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 IntroductionInformal carers are people who undertake care work for kin or friends on an unpaid basis.The increasingly important role that carers play in society and the need to provide personalised support services is recognised within international health and social care policy (Departement of Health, 2014). Despite this recognition, literature that specifically focuses on the role of the carer within the cancer field remains sparse (Fletcher et al, 2012). There is even less literature associated with the positive outcomes of caring.The physical, emotional, financial and social impact of caring for an individual with cancer can be considerable (Hudson, 2008). Certain external factors appear to be associated with carer burden and distress such as being single, unemployed or supporting someone in treatment (Chambers et al., 2012). Internal psychological responses, such as coping style, may help to minimize distress (Butow et al., 2014). Predictors of distress therefore involve an interrelationship between known caregiving stressors such as socio-demographic factors and characteristics of the carer. Positive aspects of caregivingThe relationship between positive affect in adaptation and resilience has been documented (Fredrickson, 2001). Yet, researchers predominately examine anxiety and distress in carers of someone with cancer (Roberts et al., 2013). Compared to research on burden and other negative outcomes there is little research associated with positive psychological outcomes.For example, a meta-analysis of 78 studies in the field of family care indicated that 57 use...

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