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. 2024 May-Jun;39(3):266-278.
doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000001060. Epub 2024 Feb 1.

Caregivers' Contributions to Heart Failure Self-care: An Updated Systematic Review

Harleah G Buck, Chelsea Howland, Michael A Stawnychy, Heba Aldossary, Yamnia I Cortés, Jennifer DeBerg, Angela Durante, Lucinda J Graven, Elliane Irani, Saida Jaboob, Angela Massouh, Natany Da Costa Ferreira Oberfrank, Martha Abshire Saylor, Rachel K Wion, Julie T Bidwell

Caregivers' Contributions to Heart Failure Self-care: An Updated Systematic Review

Harleah G Buck et al. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2024 May-Jun.

Abstract

Background: A previous systematic review reporting the contributions of informal, unpaid caregivers to patient heart failure (HF) self-care requires updating to better inform research, practice, and policy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide an updated review answering the questions: (1) What specific activities do informal caregivers of adults with HF take part in related to HF self-care? (2) Have the activities that informal caregivers of adults with HF take part in related to HF self-care changed over time? (3) What are the gaps in the science?

Methods: This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched. Eligible studies involved an informal, unpaid caregiver of an adult with HF as a study variable or participant. Caregiving activities were benchmarked using the theory of self-care in chronic illness.

Results: Two thousand one hundred fifty-four research reports were identified, of which 64 met criteria. Caregivers' contributions occurred in self-care maintenance (91%), monitoring (54%), and management (46%). Activities performed directly on or to the patient were reported more frequently than activities performed for the patient. Change over time involved the 3 domains differentially. Gaps include ambiguous self-care activity descriptions, inadequate caregiving time quantification, and underrepresented self-care monitoring, supportive, and communication activities.

Conclusions: Newly identified caregiver-reported activities support updating the theory of self-care in chronic illness to include activities currently considered ancillary to HF self-care. Identified gaps highlight the need to define specific caregiving activities, determine task difficulty and burden, and identify caregiver self-care strategy and education needs. Exposing the hidden work of caregiving is essential to inform policy and practice.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA Flow Diagram *No automation tools were used HF- heart failure, MCS – mechanical circulatory support.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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