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Digital health interventions to support family caregivers: An updated systematic review
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Digital health interventions to support family caregivers: An updated systematic review

Shumenghui Zhai, Frances Chu, Minghui Tan, Nai-Ching Chi, Teresa Ward and Weichao Yuwen
DIGITAL HEALTH, Vol.9, pp.1-50
01/2023
DOI: 10.1177/20552076231171967
PMCID: PMC10201006
PMID: 37223775
url
https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231171967View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objective Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S., and disease management largely falls onto patients’ family caregivers. The long-term burden and stress of caregiving negatively impact caregivers’ well-being and ability to provide care. Digital health interventions have the potential to support caregivers. This article aims to provide an updated review of interventions using digital health tools to support family caregivers and the scope of the Human-Centered Design (HCD) approaches. Methods We conducted a systematic search on July 2019 and January 2021 in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, ERIC, and ACM Digital Library, limiting to 2014–2021 to identify family caregiver interventions assisted by modern technologies. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation were used to evaluate the articles. Data were abstracted and evaluated using Rayyan and Research Electronic Data Capture. Results We identified and reviewed 40 studies from 34 journals, 10 fields, and 19 countries. Findings included patients’ conditions and relationships with family caregivers, how the technology is used to deliver the intervention, HCD methods, theoretical frameworks, components of the interventions, and family caregiver health outcomes. Conclusion This updated and expanded review revealed that digitally enhanced health interventions were robust at providing high-quality assistance and support to caregivers by improving caregiver psychological health, self-efficacy, caregiving skills, quality of life, social support, and problem-coping abilities. Health professionals need to include informal caregivers as an essential component when providing care to patients. Future research should include more marginalized caregivers from diverse backgrounds, improve the accessibility and usability of the technology tools, and tailor the intervention to be more culturally and linguistically sensitive.
 human-centered design family caregivers Digital health intervention

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