Care provided by older adult caregivers to a spouse in active cancer treatment: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose Due to population aging, the number of older adults with cancer will double in the next 20 years. There is a gap in research about older adults who are the caregiver of a spouse with cancer. Therefore, this review seeks to answer the overarching research question: What is known about the association of providing care on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), psychological distress, burden, and positive aspects of caregiving for an older adult caregiver to a spouse with cancer? Methods This scoping review was guided by the framework of Arksey and O’Malley and refined by Levac et al. Comprehensive search strategies were conducted in Medline, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), PsycINFO, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) from inception until April 15, 2021. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts, full text, and completed data abstraction. A gray literature search and two stakeholder consultations were conducted. Results A total of 8132 abstracts were screened, and 17 articles were included. All studies outlined caregivers provided preventive, instrumental, and protective care to a spouse in active cancer treatment. However, the time spent on caregiving was rarely examined ( n = 4). Providing care had a negative association on HRQOL, perceived burden, and psychological distress outcomes. Five studies examined positive experiences of caregivers. Conclusion The scoping review findings highlight the informal care provided by older adult caregivers to a spouse with cancer and how the care provided is associated with HRQOL, burden, psychological distress, and the positive aspects of caregiving. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-022-07176-2.

Intervention and coping strategies for self-perceived burden of patients with cancer: A systematic review

“…Whether the intervention can improve the emotional burden of the patients themselves deserves special attention. As shown in Table S1 , structured psychological intervention (including psychological support, health education for patients and their families, stress handling, coping skills, experience exchange, anticancer declaration learning), 22 , 34 , 41 , 42 , 44 relaxation training, 39 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 44 communication and exchange, 23 , 34 , 39 , 45 mindfulness therapy, 20 , 23 dignity enhancement and independence enhancement, 46 cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 21 and a nursing model intervention based on the Rosenthal effect 47 had been used to intervene the emotional burden of the patients. Structured psychological interventions, which integrated several components (such as health education, stress management, and coping skills), were beneficial in decrease of patients' emotional burden scores and could improve negative emotions (such as anxiety, depression, anger, confusion) in multiple ways.…”

“…39 , 40 , 41 , 44 Providing opportunities of communication for the patients also helped to ease patients' psychological stress and to increase channels for emotional catharsis. 23 , 34 , 39 , 45 For mindfulness therapy, two studies both found that it was beneficial to improve the pessimism of patients to a certain extent. 20 , 23 One study found that after the dignity therapy intervention, the sense of dignity of the patients rose (mean ​= ​−0.52 (−1.01; −0.02)), the sense of being a burden fell (mean ​= ​−0.26 (−0.49; −0.02)), depression eased (mean ​= ​−1.17 (−2.07; −0.26)), feeling anxious relaxed (mean ​= ​−1.00 (−1.67; −0.33)), and the feeling like a burden to others (n ​= ​12, mean ​= ​−0.58 (−1.09; −0.08)) improved.…”

“…Eight intervention studies were concerned with the financial/family burden dimension. 21 , 22 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 It is difficult for intervention researchers to directly intervene on the financial/family situation of the patients. However, individual interventions can indirectly affect the financial/family burden of the patients.…”

“…For example, one study showed that nursing intervention and health education through the WeChat platform to promote patients with cancer and their caregivers to participate in nursing together could help improve the financial/family burden for the patients. 45 Meanwhile, promoting patients to maintain a good state of mind, participating actively in group activities, conducting relaxation training, and exchanging experience could also help improve the patients’ financial burden/family burden. 40 , 44 A study intervened in patients through a standardized health education process.…”

Influence of financial toxicity on quality of life in lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy: the mediating effect of self-perceived burden

“…Hence, healthcare providers are supposed to be aware of, assess and subsequently address SPB among lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. Available SPB related interventions generally focused on cognitive behavioral therapy [53], functional exercise [54], and communication and exchange [55].…”