Table 1.
Summary of publications selected for review
| Authors/Year | Country | Design/measures | Participants | Health status | Sibling ages | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agerskov et al. 2019 [17] | Denmark | Qualitative: semi-structured individual interviews | 7 mothers and fathers, 5 siblings and 5 patients | CKD stages 4 or 5 | 6–13 years | 2 main themes: (1) the significance of dealing with the disease in everyday life and (2) the disease leaves a number of marks |
| Agerskov et al. 2020 [18] | Denmark | Qualitative: semi-structured individual interviews | 7 mothers and fathers, 5 siblings and 5 patients | CKD stages 4 or 5 | 6–18 years | Felt alone, worried, and neglected; monitored, worried about and felt empathy for sibling including special ties and togetherness with sibling |
| Agerskov et al. 2021 [19] | Denmark | Qualitative: semi-structured individual interviews | 7 siblings | CKD stages 4 or 5/post-transplant | 7–13 years | 3 main themes: (1) illness in the background, (2) concerned for and taking care of sibling, (3) importance of bonds with relatives or adults |
| Altschuler et al. 1991 [15] | UK | Qualitative: semi-structured individual interviews | 6 families | CKD | Unknown | Parents reported neglect of siblings |
| Batte et al. 2006 [4] | UK | Mixed: semi-structured individual interviews and SCASa | 15 siblings | CKD/post-transplant | 8–12 years | No differences in comparisons between siblings and norms on anxiety scale. Expressed concerns about separation from parents & patient health; felt protective toward patient & need to be more grown up |
| Fielding et al. 1985 [13] | UK | Quantitative: School behavior problems reported by teachers | 15 siblings | CKD/post-transplant | Unknown | No differences in comparisons between siblings and patients or age matched school control group |
| Karabudak et al. 16 | Turkey | Qualitative: semi-structured individual interview | 10 siblings | CKD stages 4 or 5 | 12–19 years | Main themes included: (1) Information and opinions, (2) Changes, including emotional responses, and (3) Solutions |
| Velasco et al. 14 | Argentina |
Quantitative: KIDSCREEN-52b |
50 siblings | Post-transplant | 8–18 years | Siblings reported lower physical well-being, financial resources, parent relations/home life and autonomy than controls |
aSpence Children’s Anxiety Scale; bHealth-related quality of life measure