Quality of life and supportive care among informal caregivers of people with cancer during a critical illness in the ICU: A mixed methods systematic review.

Objectives

To synthesise the evidence on the experiences of HRQoL, psychological well-being, and supportive care needs among informal caregivers of patients with cancer in the ICU and the experiences of the MDT to deliver supportive care.

Methods

This mixed methods systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Online databases and registers were searched using a predetermined inclusion criteria. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) assessed the methodological quality. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for mixed method systematic reviews was used to synthesise the qualitative and quantitative data.

Results

A total of 2211 studies were screened against the inclusion criteria. Fifty-six full-text articles were reviewed, and nine studies were included. The HRQoL of informal caregivers of patients with cancer was impacted by an inability to perform their own self-care tasks and anxiety/depression. However, little is known about how MDTs across ICU and oncology services deliver co-ordinated care.

Conclusion

Several domains of HRQoL and supportive care are impacted in informal caregivers of patients with cancer admitted to the ICU that may differ from the general ICU population. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE This review highlights the impacted domains of HRQoL in informal caregivers of patients with cancer in the ICU, as well as their unique supportive care needs, which require further research and attention from nurses and the broader MDT.