Buck HG, Howland C, Stawnychy MA, Aldossary H, Cortés YI, DeBerg J, Durante A, Graven LJ, Irani E, Jaboob S, Massouh A, Oberfrank NDCF, Saylor MA, Wion RK, Bidwell JT. Caregivers' Contributions to Heart Failure Self-care: An Updated Systematic Review.
J Cardiovasc Nurs 2024:00005082-990000000-00168. [PMID:
38306302 DOI:
10.1097/jcn.0000000000001060]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
A previous systematic review reporting the contributions of informal, unpaid caregivers to patient heart failure (HF) self-care requires updating to better inform research, practice, and policy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to provide an updated review answering the questions: (1) What specific activities do informal caregivers of adults with HF take part in related to HF self-care? (2) Have the activities that informal caregivers of adults with HF take part in related to HF self-care changed over time? (3) What are the gaps in the science?
METHODS
This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched. Eligible studies involved an informal, unpaid caregiver of an adult with HF as a study variable or participant. Caregiving activities were benchmarked using the theory of self-care in chronic illness.
RESULTS
Two thousand one hundred fifty-four research reports were identified, of which 64 met criteria. Caregivers' contributions occurred in self-care maintenance (91%), monitoring (54%), and management (46%). Activities performed directly on or to the patient were reported more frequently than activities performed for the patient. Change over time involved the 3 domains differentially. Gaps include ambiguous self-care activity descriptions, inadequate caregiving time quantification, and underrepresented self-care monitoring, supportive, and communication activities.
CONCLUSIONS
Newly identified caregiver-reported activities support updating the theory of self-care in chronic illness to include activities currently considered ancillary to HF self-care. Identified gaps highlight the need to define specific caregiving activities, determine task difficulty and burden, and identify caregiver self-care strategy and education needs. Exposing the hidden work of caregiving is essential to inform policy and practice.
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