A systematic review and thematic synthesis of quality of life in the informal carers of cancer patients with cachexia

Abstract

The complexity of caring for a cancer patient with cachexia translates into a range of problems and experiences for informal carers. By addressing the impact of caring for a patient with cancer cachexia on carers, both caregiver and patient quality of life may improve.

Prevalence and predictors of psychosocial problems in informal caregivers of older cancer survivors - A systematic review: Still major gaps in current research

“…Caregivers also struggle with emotions, such as anger, worry, fear and guilt, which are difficult to deal with and they have the feeling of being invisible for the professional caregivers (Seal, Murray, & Seddon, ). Regarding interventions to support informal caregivers, other systematic reviews mainly report that these should be approachable and adjusted to the needs of caregivers, to prevent the most vulnerable caregivers from being excluded (Applebaum & Breitbart, ; Bunn et al., ; Dias et al., ; Greenwood & Smith, ; Jones, Edwards, & Hounsome, ; Sansoni et al., ; Schoenmakers et al., ; Seal et al., ; Wheelwright, Darlington, Hopkinson, Fitzsimmons, & Johnson, ). To adjust interventions to the caregivers’ needs, further research is needed to compare caregivers of different gender and demographic backgrounds (Greenwood & Smith, , ; Sansoni et al., ; Schoenmakers et al., ).…”

The Experience of Caregivers Living with Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis

“…Some of those studies have been reviewed using different kinds of review methods, such as, literature review, systematic review, and critical review. Many qualitative reviews focused on exploring and describing a specific aspect of caregiving experience such as caregivers’ needs while providing care to people with cancer [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] and the impact of caregiving roles on the caregivers [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Among these reviews, some of the researchers showed their interest in a certain group of caregivers such as spouse caregivers [ 20 , 21 ] and formal caregivers—healthcare providers [ 22 ], while some of them focused on exploring a certain aspect of caregiving and coping strategies [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

An Australasian perspective on the curative treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer, supportive care, and future directions for management

“…A systematic review of qualitative studies in cachexia reported that patients and carers wanted to have discussions with their health care providers about cachexia, as there was a tendency to make patients and carers feel isolated otherwise. The study reported: ‘as a minimum, carers want health care professionals to acknowledge patient weight loss so that they can feel confident that the problem is being taken seriously and it is a topic which is open for discussion’ [27]. …”

“…In one systematic review of qualitative studies in cancer cachexia, frustration was a theme commonly expressed by carers. It was sometimes due to the inability of patients to eat the food that was prepared for them [27] and carers also found it frustrating when the food that they prepared exacerbated symptoms of PEI [16]. …”

“…‘Taking charge of food and eating may help carers assuage feelings of powerlessness and may create an outlet for the love and care that caregivers want to provide’ [27]. Where patients could not eat the food prepared for them, conflict commonly arose between patients and carers.…”