Caregivers’ experiences of contributing to patients’ self‐care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
Open Access
- 10 July 2021
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Advanced Nursing
- Vol. 77 (10), 4017-4034
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14942
Abstract
Aim To identify, analyze and synthesize qualitative studies on caregivers’ experiences of contributions to the self-care of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Background COPD patients perform daily self-care behaviours to manage the disease. With aging and disease progression, patients need to rely on the contributions of informal caregivers, usually family members, for disease management. Caregivers’ normal or habitual contributions to patients’ self-care have not yet been completely investigated. Design Thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. Data sources CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Emcare and OpenGrey databases were searched from inception to September 2020. The search was restricted to English-language papers. Review methods Studies were critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. The initial line-by-line codes were aggregated into descriptive themes from which analytical themes were derived. Results Fifteen papers from nine countries, published 2009–2020, were included. Six analytical themes encompassing 22 descriptive themes were identified and grouped in two overarching themes describing caregivers’ experiences of contributions to patients’ self-care during the stable and exacerbation phases of COPD. In the stable phases, caregivers contribute through maintaining disease stability, promoting healthy behaviours, fostering normal life and helping perform daily activities. During exacerbations, caregivers contribute through assessing, monitoring and managing symptoms in collaboration with patients or autonomously. They contribute by performing actions, motivating patients, organizing care, sensing variations in symptoms, acquiring knowledge and educating patients, making decisions, communicating and collaborating with healthcare providers and patients and advocating for patients. Conclusion This thematic synthesis enlarges knowledge of caregivers’ contributions to patients’ self-care in COPD, detailing the ways by which caregivers provide care to patients. Impact Contributing daily to the self-care of a family member with COPD is a complex experience. Nurses need to acknowledge the importance of caregivers’ contributions to patient disease management and develop effective educational interventions to support them.This publication has 37 references indexed in Scilit:
- Enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research: ENTREQBMC Medical Research Methodology, 2012
- Informal care‐giving in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: lay knowledge and experienceJournal of Clinical Nursing, 2012
- Presence of In-Home Caregiver and Health Outcomes of Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseJournal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2011
- A day at a time: caregiving on the edge in advanced COPDInternational Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 2010
- Informal care and the self-management partnership: implications for Australian health policy and practiceAustralian Health Review, 2010
- Living with a spouse with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the meaning of wives’ experiencesJournal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 2009
- Methods for the synthesis of qualitative research: a critical reviewBMC Medical Research Methodology, 2009
- Caring for a person in advanced illness and suffering from breathlessness at home: Threats and resourcesPalliative & Supportive Care, 2009
- Spontaneous improvement in randomised clinical trials: meta-analysis of three-armed trials comparing no treatment, placebo and active interventionBMC Medical Research Methodology, 2009
- Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviewsBMC Medical Research Methodology, 2008