Psychosocial interventions aimed at family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period: A systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions, including mindfulness, for family members caring for cancer patients in the palliative period.
Results Summary
The study found that mindfulness and other psychosocial interventions improved depressive symptoms, stress levels, caregiver burden, quality of life, self-efficacy, coping skills, and awareness levels in caregivers. However, only 8 out of 4652 articles met the inclusion criteria, indicating limited robust evidence.
Population
Family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness exercises | decrease | depressive symptoms | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #1 |
mindfulness exercises | decrease | stress levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #2 |
mindfulness exercises | decrease | caregiver burden | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #3 |
mindfulness exercises | increase | quality of life | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #4 |
mindfulness exercises | increase | self-efficacy | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #5 |
mindfulness exercises | increase | coping skills | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #6 |
mindfulness exercises | increase | awareness levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #7 |
stress management | decrease | depressive symptoms | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #8 |
stress management | decrease | stress levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #9 |
stress management | decrease | caregiver burden | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #10 |
stress management | increase | quality of life | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #11 |
stress management | increase | self-efficacy | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #12 |
stress management | increase | coping skills | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #13 |
stress management | increase | awareness levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #14 |
acceptance and commitment therapy | decrease | depressive symptoms | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #15 |
acceptance and commitment therapy | decrease | stress levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #16 |
acceptance and commitment therapy | decrease | caregiver burden | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #17 |
acceptance and commitment therapy | increase | quality of life | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #18 |
acceptance and commitment therapy | increase | self-efficacy | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #19 |
acceptance and commitment therapy | increase | coping skills | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #20 |
acceptance and commitment therapy | increase | awareness levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #21 |
cognitive behavioral intervention | decrease | depressive symptoms | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #22 |
cognitive behavioral intervention | decrease | stress levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #23 |
cognitive behavioral intervention | decrease | caregiver burden | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #24 |
cognitive behavioral intervention | increase | quality of life | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #25 |
cognitive behavioral intervention | increase | self-efficacy | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #26 |
cognitive behavioral intervention | increase | coping skills | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #27 |
cognitive behavioral intervention | increase | awareness levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #28 |
meaning-centered psychotherapy | decrease | depressive symptoms | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #29 |
meaning-centered psychotherapy | decrease | stress levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #30 |
meaning-centered psychotherapy | decrease | caregiver burden | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #31 |
meaning-centered psychotherapy | increase | quality of life | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #32 |
meaning-centered psychotherapy | increase | self-efficacy | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #33 |
meaning-centered psychotherapy | increase | coping skills | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #34 |
meaning-centered psychotherapy | increase | awareness levels | family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period | - | lead to improvements | #35 |
AIM: The purpose of this systematic review is to examine evidence-based psychosocial intervention research aimed at family members caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period. METHOD: In this systematic review, randomized controlled psychosocial intervention studies for the family member caring for patients with cancer published between January 1, 2016 and July 30, 2021 were reviewed. PubMed (including MEDLINE), Cochrane, APA PsycNet, ProQuest, Science Direct, TR Index, and Wiley Online Library databases were scanned. Eight publications were identified following a database review for English language articles published from 2016 to 2021. Sample, methods, content, and outcomes of included interventions are summarized. RESULTS: Only eight of the 4652 articles examined met the inclusion criteria. Psychosocial interventions such as mindfulness exercises, stress management, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral intervention, and meaning-centered psychotherapy for cancer caregivers were applied for relatives caring for patients with cancer in the palliative period. CONCLUSION: Psychosocial interventions applied to family members caring for patients with cancer during the palliative period lead to improvements in depressive symptoms, stress levels, the caregiver burden, quality of life, self-efficacy, coping skills, and awareness levels.