Interventions and strategies to improve social support for caregivers of children with chronic diseases: An umbrella review

Abstract

BackgroundSocial support is an important approach to improve the psychosocial health status and promote positive coping for caregivers of children with chronic diseases. Such an approach can reduce parenting stress, help resolve parenting difficulties through the use of various social support relationships.MethodsWe performed an umbrella review methodology using the method of examination, analysis and synthesis of systematic reviews. A PRISMA flow diagram was used to show the search process. The Joanna Briggs Institute was used to appraise the quality of papers and a narrative synthesis was undertaken. Relevant English and Chinese systematic reviews were searched in Embase, PubMed, Web of science, OVID, CNKI, CBM, Wan Fang and Cochrane Library databases, until November 2021, June 2022.ResultsOut of 1,905 records, we included fourteen systematic reviews for a synthesis. Evidence to promote social support for caregivers of children with chronic diseases was identified from four key aspects: (i) Intervention content; (ii) Intervention forms; (iii) Intervention time; and (iv) Sources of support.ConclusionsThe findings of this review suggest that a combination of differing interventions, especially for early family, including the content of parenting training or education, attitude building and resource provision, which can implement online is recommend. More interventional studies and quantitative evidence syntheses are still needed.ImpactAdequate social support is essential to promote the psychological wellbeing of caregivers of children with chronic diseases. In the early stage of children's diseases, integrating different content and forms of interventions for caregivers' families and actively helping caregivers to identify available support resources can improve social support. The findings from this review can be used to guide caregivers of children with chronic diseases and provide evidence for healthcare professionals and social workers to carry out relevant interventions.

Tailored Psychoeducational Home Interventions for Children with a Chronic Illness: Families’ Experiences

“…The LbP objectives, which aimed to provide social participation opportunities through play, sport, and leisure, alongside psychosocial, emotional, and relational support, were fully recognized and appreciated by the respondents (refer to Domains III and V in Table 3 ). These findings align with the existing literature on the importance of parenting and social support programs to reduce stress and improve coping and family functioning ( Gill et al, 2021 ; Yang et al, 2022 ). Parents reported improvements in their children’s functioning, their own, and the overall family dynamics (Domain V).…”

“…The care of these children requires close coordination between hospital and community care providers and ongoing interactions between professionals, parents, and the community ( Galligan & Hogan, 2021 ). The quality of life for the child and their family is influenced by many factors such as the type and severity of the disease, psychosocial and educational support within the family and the local community, access to medical and other services, effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation, and community acceptance and connectedness ( Marchetti et al, 1995 ; Mitchell et al, 2020 ; Yang et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Illnesses and their treatments can cause significant psychosocial stressors and side effects that can negatively impact the quality of life of both the child and their family; additionally, they may hinder the child’s ability to participate in common social and educational activities that are otherwise important for healthy development, such as play, sports, and school ( Ospina et al, 2021 ). However, psychoeducational interventions and physical and psychological therapies designed to support children and their families in managing the psychosocial consequences of chronic diseases and their treatments can alleviate such negative side effects ( Barlow & Ellard, 2004 ; Yang et al, 2022 ).…”

Effect of family-centered care interventions on well-being of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

“…They could have identified the caregiver's needs, however professional support or actively identifying support resources may be required by the parents to meet their enormous and specific needs and actually reduce their stress as seen in a study exploring social support for caregivers of children with chronic diseases. 41 The family support workers helped in making the decisions, whereas in the study by Whittingham et al (2014), 32 more active support is given to the caregivers such as the practice of beneficial strategies. The improvement in child behaviour and emotional problems may have resulted in reduced depression and stress.…”

Interventions to address parenting stress among caregivers of children with chronic diseases: An umbrella review

“…The sense of achievement and benefit that caregivers experience in coping with children's diseases is considerably overshadowed by the pain and pressure caused by the illness (Eiserman, 2001; Klein et al., 2006; Sischo et al., 2016). Challenges associated with caregivers of children suffering chronic illnesses intrinsic in the parenting process (Yang et al., 2022). In addition, worrying about maladaptive behaviours, emotional problems, worsening disease and poor prognosis in children is also a significant source of caregivers' parenting stress (Ilias et al., 2018).…”