Candy, B., Jones, L., Drake, R., Leurent, B., & King, M. (2011). Interventions for supporting informal caregivers of patients in the terminal phase of a disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6, CD007617.
STUDY PURPOSE: To assess the effects of support interventions on the psychological and physical health of informal caregivers of patients in the terminal stage of disease
TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review
PHASE OF CARE: End-of-life care
APPLICATIONS: Palliative care
Nine studies used interventions aimed to directly support the caregiver, and in five of these, the intervention was also aimed at the patient. In two trials, the aim was to indirectly support the caregiver via patient support. A meta-analysis of eight studies aimed at direct caregiver support to reduce psychological distress, in favor of the intervention (SMD = –0.15, 95% confidence interval [–0.28, –0.02], p = 0.02). Studies measuring improvement in coping or quality of life did not show any significant effect of the intervention. Two trials showed improved access to health services with the intervention, and one did not show any difference between groups in physical health outcomes of the caregivers.
Support interventions aimed directly at the caregiver reduced short-term psychological distress, with a small effect size, and resulted in marginal and insignificant improvements in coping and quality of life.
Supportive interventions provided directly to informal caregivers had small but significant positive effects on caregiver psychological outcomes.