Barriers and facilitators for male carers in accessing formal and informal support: A systematic review

Abstract

Unpaid, informal carers play a vital role in supporting people with long-term conditions. Being a carer can be challenging and carers may need support but they frequently fail to access it. Compared to research investigating the experiences of female carers, research with male carers is underdeveloped. The available evidence suggests male and female carers have many experiences in common but some research suggests that compared to females, male carers are even less likely to access services. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to synthesise research investigating adult male carers' experiences of accessing formal and informal support focussing on the barriers and facilitators. Nine health and social care electronic databases were searched (e.g. PubMed, PsychINFO, CINAHL Plus, Social Policy and Practice, Scopus). Seven studies (five qualitative and two quantitative) fitting the inclusion criteria were identified. All came from North America and most focussed on older carers caring for people with dementia. All seven studies described barriers to accessing support and three highlighted facilitators. Male carers felt committed to their role, seeing it as their responsibility but were often ambivalent about seeking help. Insufficient service information was frequently emphasised. Participants highlighted positive past experiences and professional or voluntary sector support in providing information and helping access services. Research into male carers' experiences in accessing support remains underdeveloped. Research that distinguishes between, for example, the experiences of spouses and sons and with direct comparisons between male and female carers is needed. Whether gender specific services would benefit male carers remains undetermined.

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

“…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., ). Also, they suggest more longitudinal research focusing on caring dyads and caregiving networks (Applebaum & Breitbart, ; Greenwood & Smith, ), because of their important influence on caregiver's psychosocial problems.…”

Family caregivers' perceptions and experiences regarding caring for older adults with chronic diseases

“…Additionally, several studies found that family caregivers struggled to cope with the chronic stress and emotional disturbance related to caring for an older person with a chronic disease 9,11 . Most of the systematic reviews reported that family caregivers had 'no life anymore' and that they lacked freedom to exercise their occupational rights to work, explore interests as well as engage in social participation with friends, relatives and partners 2,8,9,10,11,12 .…”

“…Most of the systematic reviews reported that family caregivers had 'no life anymore' and that they lacked freedom to exercise their occupational rights to work, explore interests as well as engage in social participation with friends, relatives and partners 2,8,9,10,11,12 . Previous studies looked at the effect of providing care for family caregivers in terms of their physical health, psychological well-being, social life, financial situation and quality of life which appeared to form part of their burden 3,8,9,10 .…”

Identifying and Understanding the Health Information Experiences and Preferences of Caregivers of Individuals With Either Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, or Burn Injury: A Qualitative Investigation

“…Caregivers assume responsibilities that affect their personal lives, financial status, and mental well-being [4]. They often provide housing, coordinate rehabilitative services, and communicate with health care providers [5].…”

“…Consequently, caregivers seek Web-based reviews of particular drugs or medical treatments more frequently than noncaregivers [19]. A lack of information can lead to frustration and anxiety about the short- and long-term effects of the injury [4]. Common sources of health information for caregivers include medical professionals, written sources, family or friends, nonprint media, and the Internet [20].…”