Table 1.
Study characteristics.
| Author (year) | Objective | Country | Participants | Cancer type and stage | Baseline distress/burden levels Mean (SD) |
Assessment used | Supportive care and personnel | Theory/model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdullahzadeh et al[49] (2021) | To illustrate the efficacy of a designed family-need-based program on relieving stress, anxiety, and depression of family caregivers of leukemia patients | Iran | Female= 71.9% Treatment: (n= 32, mean age= 39 years) Control: (n= 32, mean age= 40.3 years) Race: N/A Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (50%), Children (19%) |
Leukemia- All stages | Treatment= 31.16 (4.14) Control= 31.09 (4.48) |
DASS-42 | Peer support, support group Personnel: Nurse researchers |
N/A |
| Applebaum et al[41] (2017) | Evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the CCC workshop among ICs across the US through a pilot RCT | United States of America (USA) | Female- 86% Treatment: (n= 42, mean age= 48.3 years) Control: (n= 42, mean age= 51.9 years) Race: White (86%) Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (61%), Parent (13%), Children (15%), Sibling (4%) |
Blood cancer and breast cancer- All stages | Treatment= 137.2 (19.8) Control= 140.6 (22.1) |
24-item Caregiver reaction assessment | Webcasts Personnel: N/A |
N/A |
| Aubin et al[48] (2021) | To assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of an intervention to improve FC supportive care | Canada | Female- 72.5% Treatment: (n=54) Control: (n=55) Mean age= 61.8 years Race: N/A Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (78%), Parent (19%), Other-children, siblings (11%) |
Lung cancer | Treatment= 12.3 (7.8) Control 10.4 (7.1) |
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale | Informational aids Personnel: Family physicians And Oncology nurses |
N/A |
| Belgacem et al[47] (2013) | Assess the efficacy of a caregiver educational program by measuring two outcomes: patients and caregivers’ quality of life and caregivers’ burden | France | Female- 58.5% Treatment: (n= 33, mean age= 56.6 years) Control: (n= 34, mean age= 62.5 years) Race: N/A Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (61%), Parent (9%), Children (17%), Sibling (9%), Friend (3%) |
Hematological | Treatment= 23.5 (14.4) Control= 28.5 (14.6) |
22-item ZBI | Nursing care, welfare care Personnel: Oncology nurses, | N/A |
| Chen et al[53] (2019) | To examine the effect of a reminiscence therapy (RT) intervention on the spousal caregivers of elderly patients with advanced cancer | China | Male- 51.9% Treatment: (n= 27, mean age= 69.1 years) Control: (n= 29, mean age= 66.3 years) Race: Asian Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (50%) |
Advanced solid- Stage IV | Treatment= 39.22 (15.01) Control= 41.31 (8.69) |
22-item ZBI | N/A | Positive psychology theory |
| Ferrell et al[67] (2020) | To test a palliative care support intervention for oncology family caregivers | USA | Female- 80% Treatment: (n=117) Control (n=123), Mean age=65 years Race: White (49%) Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (64%), Children (23%) |
Solid tumors- Stage IV | Treatment= 48.9 (8.26) Control= 50.3 (8.07) |
Caregiver burden scale | Selfcare plan and informational aids Personnel: Registered nurses |
Family caregiver quality of life |
| Heckal et al[42] (2018) | Test the efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden and unmet needs, and improve psychological well-being among cancer caregivers, evaluate the potential impact on patient outcomes | Australia | Female- 63% Treatment: (n= 108, mean age= 56.3 years) Control: (n= 108, mean age= 57.2 years) Race: N/A Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (77.3%) Other- parent, children, friend (21%) |
Solid tumors- Stage I to III | Treatment= 18.99 (12.15) Control= 18.05 (12.10) |
22-item ZBI | Education and counseling Personnel: Oncology nurses |
N/A |
| Mosher et al[44] (2019) | Examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of telephone based ACT for symptomatic, advance lung cancer patients and their distressed family caregivers | USA | Female-76% Treatment: (n= 25, mean age= 61.64 years) Control: (n= 25, mean age= 52.40 years) Race: White (84%) Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (72%) Other family member (28%) |
Advanced lung cancer Stage III or IV |
Treatment= 4.12 (0.46) Control= 4.12 (0.46 |
One-item Distress Thermometer | N/A | Acceptance and commitment therapy model |
| Mosher et al[45] (2018) | Examine whether adding a peer helping component to a coping skills intervention leads to improved meaning in life and peace for advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and their caregivers | USA | Female- 64% Treatment: (n= 25, mean age= 55.32 years) Control: (n= 25, mean age= 52.40 years) Race: White (88%) Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (76%) Other family member (24%) |
Advanced gastrointestinal cancer Stage IV |
Treatment= 14.36 (7.44) Control= 14.64 (8.40) |
12-item short form of the ZBI | N/A | Social Cognitive Theory |
| Nejad et al[46] (2016) | Determine and compare the caregiver strain index scores of breast cancer informal caregivers, before and after a patient-caregiver educational and telephone follow-up program | Iran |
Treatment: (n= 30, mean age= 40 years) Control: (n= 30, mean age= NA) Race: Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (41%), Children (31%), Siblings (15%), Parents (5%), Other (5%) |
Breast cancer Stage: N/A |
Treatment= 4.8 (2.3) Control= 7.8 (2.8) |
12-item caregiver strain index questionnaire | N/A | N/A |
| Pensak et al[54] (2021) | To help caregivers of oncology patients manage distress |
USA | Female- 73% Treatment: (n= 26, mean age= 53.3 years) Control: (n= 30 mean age= 55 years) Race: White (92%) Relationship with the patient: Spouse/partner (76%) |
Solid tumors- Stage I | Treatment= 13.60 (4.52) Control= 23.46 (5.51) |
Perceived stress scale | Support groups Personnel: social workers |
Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management |
CCC= Care for the Cancer Caregiver, DASS= Scale for stress, anxiety, and depression, IC= Informal caregiver, RCT= Randomized clinical trial, ACT= Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ZBI= Zarit Burden Interview, BSI= Brief Symptom Inventory.