Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Informal caregivers of older patients often neglect their self-care, despite the mental and physical health effects of caregiving. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on self-care interventions for informal caregivers are lacking, making it difficult to determine effective strate...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04614-6 |
| _version_ | 1797276309949251584 |
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| author | Huanran Liu Vivian W. Q. Lou Shicheng Xu |
| author_facet | Huanran Liu Vivian W. Q. Lou Shicheng Xu |
| author_sort | Huanran Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Informal caregivers of older patients often neglect their self-care, despite the mental and physical health effects of caregiving. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on self-care interventions for informal caregivers are lacking, making it difficult to determine effective strategies. This systematic review explored the definition and categories of self-care RCTs for informal caregivers and a meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effectiveness of these interventions. Methods Seven databases (Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Embase) were searched for articles in English reporting on self-care intervention outcomes for informal caregivers of patients aged 60 years or older. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses were conducted. Results Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review, of which fifteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. RCTs lacked a clear definition of self-care, mainly focused on promoting physical and mental health and individual capacity, and neglected disease prevention. The interventions focused on self-management for health and individual agency, with less attention on health literacy, decision-making capacity, self-monitoring for health status, and linkage to the health system. Meta-analysis results showed that RCTs had a small effect on reducing anxiety (SMD = -0.142, 95% CI [-0.302, 0.017], p = .081) but a significant effect on reducing depression (SMD = -0.214, 95% CI [-0.353, -0.076], p = .002). Country and type of caregiver significantly contributed to the effect of reducing caregivers’ depression in subgroup analysis. Conclusions Studies on caregiver-centered self-care interventions are limited, resulting in a lack of a clear definition and comprehensive intervention. RCTs indicated a small effect on informal caregivers’ mental health, and interventions should consider both mental and physical health. More evidence is needed on the effectiveness of self-care interventions for informal caregivers’ anxiety and physical health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:26:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d30f309631f462a984487d8f8fe739b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:26:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d30f309631f462a984487d8f8fe739b2024-03-05T16:41:59ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182024-01-0124111710.1186/s12877-023-04614-6Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysisHuanran Liu0Vivian W. Q. Lou1Shicheng Xu2Department of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong KongDepartment of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong KongDepartment of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong KongAbstract Background Informal caregivers of older patients often neglect their self-care, despite the mental and physical health effects of caregiving. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on self-care interventions for informal caregivers are lacking, making it difficult to determine effective strategies. This systematic review explored the definition and categories of self-care RCTs for informal caregivers and a meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effectiveness of these interventions. Methods Seven databases (Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Embase) were searched for articles in English reporting on self-care intervention outcomes for informal caregivers of patients aged 60 years or older. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses were conducted. Results Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review, of which fifteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. RCTs lacked a clear definition of self-care, mainly focused on promoting physical and mental health and individual capacity, and neglected disease prevention. The interventions focused on self-management for health and individual agency, with less attention on health literacy, decision-making capacity, self-monitoring for health status, and linkage to the health system. Meta-analysis results showed that RCTs had a small effect on reducing anxiety (SMD = -0.142, 95% CI [-0.302, 0.017], p = .081) but a significant effect on reducing depression (SMD = -0.214, 95% CI [-0.353, -0.076], p = .002). Country and type of caregiver significantly contributed to the effect of reducing caregivers’ depression in subgroup analysis. Conclusions Studies on caregiver-centered self-care interventions are limited, resulting in a lack of a clear definition and comprehensive intervention. RCTs indicated a small effect on informal caregivers’ mental health, and interventions should consider both mental and physical health. More evidence is needed on the effectiveness of self-care interventions for informal caregivers’ anxiety and physical health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04614-6Self-careSelf-managementInformal caregiversRandomized controlled trialMeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Huanran Liu Vivian W. Q. Lou Shicheng Xu Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Geriatrics Self-care Self-management Informal caregivers Randomized controlled trial Meta-analysis |
| title | Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | randomized controlled trials on promoting self care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Self-care Self-management Informal caregivers Randomized controlled trial Meta-analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04614-6 |
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