Author:

• Mayra Delalibera - Delalibera, M. - São João do Estoril, Outro País/Another Country - Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada – ISPA - <mayrarmani@yahoo.com.br>

Co-author(s):

• Isabel Leal - Leal,Isabel - Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada – ISPA - <mayrarmani@yahoo.com.br>
• António Barbosa - Barbosa,António - Faculdade de Psicologia da Universidade de Lisboa - <mayrarmani@yahoo.com.br>
• Joana Presa - Presa,Joana - Núcleo Académico de Estudos e Intervenção sobre Luto – Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa - <mayrarmani@yahoo.com.br>

Thematic Area:

Saúde e Trabalho

Abstract:

Caring for a family member with an advanced and/or terminal illness can be an great emotional, physical and financial burden that affects the caregiver’s quality of life. The aim of the present study is to conduct a systematic review of the literature about the burden of caregiving, related factors and the consequences for family caregivers of advanced stage cancer patients or patients in palliative care. The research was conducted considering papers published in the EBSCO, Web of Knowledge and BIREME databases since there are records on this topic until March 2014. Of the 582 articles found, only 27 were selected. The majority of the articles found that family caregivers were overburdened. Some studies found that the caregiving burden was associated with some characteristics of the patient and his illness while, in another studies, it was associated with poor health of the caregiver, greater psychopathological symptoms (anxiety, depression, emotional distress) and with the development of complications in the grief process. However, hope, social support, the ability of the caregiver to give meaning to the experience of caring and feel comfortable with the tasks of caring were associated with lower levels of burden.

Keywords:

caregiver burden, family caregivers, end of life, palliative care

Content:

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