The impact of informal cancer caregiving: A literature review on psychophysiological studies

Abstract

Caregiving can be experienced as a stressful process, which can cause psychological and physical consequences. The combination of prolonged stress and the physical demands of caregiving may impair the physiological functioning of caregivers and increase the risk of health problems creating considerable stress in the life of caregivers regarding emotional, physical, social and financial areas. This literature review explored studies that used measures of the autonomic nervous system in caregivers of oncology patients such as electrodermal and cardiovascular (re)activity. The results revealed that caregivers had elevated stress levels and a serious autonomic imbalance that may, in the long term, trigger negative health consequences such as infectious diseases, cancer progression, cardiovascular disease and even premature death. The results showed the need to carry out preventive strategies in this population, in order to improve the autonomic profile of caregivers of cancer patients.

Efecto de una intervención educativa para cuidadores familiares de personas con cáncer en cirugía

“…Ahora bien, la cirugía como uno de los tratamientos centrales en la atención de pacientes con cáncer, implica cambios y modificación en el estilo de vida tanto en el sujeto de atención como en el cuidador familiar a cargo, se genera impacto en la calidad de vida (4) , sobrecarga con el cuidado, e incluso alteraciones emocionales. Los cuidadores reportan altos niveles de estrés, disbalances serios autonómicos, que pueden en un mediano y largo plazo desencadenar mayor riesgo de problemas de salud considerables, con afectación en las esferas físicas, sociales y financieras emocionales (5) Al igual que los pacientes, los cuidadores pueden experimentar ansiedad y temor acerca de lo que sucederá durante el periodo de hospitalización, las potenciales complicaciones y resultados de la cirugía, y en este sentido, requieren preparación para manejar aspectos tales como el dolor, las molestias postquirúrgicas, entre otros aspectos, propios de la atención en casa, con el fin de lograr una mayor optimización de los servicios (4) y menor sobrecarga.…”

Female partner experiences of prostate cancer patients’ engagement with a community-based football intervention: a qualitative study

“…Consequently, future work might bene t by exploring the potentially compromising role of football on health and psychosocial needs as previous described in the scienti c literature on informal cancer care [31][32][33]. Also, it is clear from the current study that the football did not directly remedy women's supportive care needs.…”

Study Protocol for the Evaluation of Individual Psychological Interventions for Family Caregivers of Advanced Cancer Patients

“…FCs have to offer physical and emotional care for cancer patients, and they suffer financial, social, physical, and mental burdens (Geng et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2018;Alam et al, 2020;Duimering et al, 2020). FCs of advanced cancer patients are at greater risk for psychological problems or distress than FCs of other kinds of patients, which is likely due to the deterioration of the disease, serious adverse reactions related to anticancer treatment, and more intolerable severe symptoms at the end of life (Tang, 2006;Williams and Mccorkle, 2011;Oechsle et al, 2019;Teixeira et al, 2019;Lin et al, 2020). Psychological problems, mainly anxiety and depression, also have profound adverse effects on the quality of life QOL of both patients and caregivers (Sun et al, 2019;Teixeira et al, 2019).…”

“…FCs of advanced cancer patients are at greater risk for psychological problems or distress than FCs of other kinds of patients, which is likely due to the deterioration of the disease, serious adverse reactions related to anticancer treatment, and more intolerable severe symptoms at the end of life (Tang, 2006;Williams and Mccorkle, 2011;Oechsle et al, 2019;Teixeira et al, 2019;Lin et al, 2020). Psychological problems, mainly anxiety and depression, also have profound adverse effects on the quality of life QOL of both patients and caregivers (Sun et al, 2019;Teixeira et al, 2019). The prevalence rates of significant anxiety and depression among FCs of advanced cancer patients vary largely, from 40 to 47% and from 16 to 67%, respectively (Oechsle et al, 2019;Teo et al, 2019;Alam et al, 2020).…”