Table 3.

Descriptive Characteristics of the Studies Included on Patient–Caregiver Perspective

Authors, Year	Study Design	Participants† n, M (SD)	Type of Chronic Condition	Question Relevance	Measures of QoL	Main Results
De Laurentis et al, 2019	Cross-sectional (quantitative design)	76 (38 dyads), 58.5 (13.4) patients 54.4 (14.8) caregivers	Different cancer syndromes: Breast, Gastric, Head/Neck Lung, Bones, Dermatologic, Gynecologic, Genitourinary, Hodgkin’s	Family, Emotional Distress	DT BEES BLRI-EUs	Caregivers’ distress level was predicted by patients’ pain intensity, caregivers’ emotional problems and patients’ pain intensity.
Izzo et al, 2019	Cross-sectional (quantitative design)	26 (15 patients), 60.7 (9.5) patients 48.07 (16.07) caregivers	Cancer (NS)	QoL, Family, Burden	EORTC-QLQ-C30 OARS ZBI	CP negatively affected the patients’ QoL and their functionality extending this impact also to the family environment. Functional capacity positively correlated with caregivers’ overload.
Rigoni et al 2016	Cross-sectional (quantitative design)	60 (30 dyads), 56.6 (NE) patients 45.4 (NE) caregivers	Head and Neck Cancer	QoL, Family	EORTC-QLQ-C30 ADL CSI	Patients and caregivers demonstrated a similar impairment in all their QoL domains (physical health, psychological well-being, daily activities, social activities, changes in health, and overall health).
Ojeda et al, 2014	Cross-sectional (qualitative design)	361 (325 patients), 56.5 (15.2) patients 53.4 (20.1) caregivers	Cancer (NS)	Family, Employment status	Interviews	Both patients and caregivers reported a negative experience of CP on their QoL (daily activities limitations, sadness, anxiety, economic problems, job loss, sleep disturbances, modification in leisure activities).
Kowal et al, 2012	Cross-sectional (quantitative design)	318 (238 patients) 47.1 (9.8) patients 48.7 (10.9) caregivers	NS	Family, Burden, Functionality, Depression, Attachment	SPBS BCOS-R FLS PHQ-9	Positive correlations between caregivers’ burden and patients’ anxiety attachment, caregivers’ burden and patients’ depressive symptoms were demonstrated.

Note: ^†with chronic pain.

Abbreviations: NE, not estimable; NS, not specified; CP, chronic pain; QoL, quality of life; EORTC-QLQ-C30, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer – 30-item Quality of Life Questionnaire; DT, distress thermometer; BEES, balanced emotional empathy scale; BLRI-EUs, Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory - Empathy Understanding subscale; OARS, Older Americans Resources and Services; ZBI, Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview; FLS, Functional Limitations Scale; SPBS, Self-Perceived Burden Scale; BCOS-R, Bakas Caregiving Outcomes scale-Revised; PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9; ADL, activities of daily living; CSI, caregiver strain index.