{"title":"Effectiveness of Digital Tools in Supporting Young Caregivers: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Ravi Shankar, Amaevia Lim, Qian Xu","doi":"10.1111/eip.70215","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the effectiveness of digital interventions in supporting young caregivers' mental health, well-being, and caregiving experiences, and to assess implementation factors including adherence and acceptability.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We systematically searched six databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, and Scopus) and grey literature sources from inception to March 2025, identifying studies evaluating digital interventions for caregivers aged 25 years or younger. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. Due to substantial heterogeneity, narrative synthesis was performed following the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 752 records, six studies met inclusion criteria, comprising three randomized controlled trials, one feasibility study, and two development/adaptation studies. Interventions included web-based platforms, mobile applications, audio-conferencing systems, and e-learning platforms. Digital tools showed limited effectiveness for mental health outcomes but demonstrated promise for quality-of-life improvements, with one trial showing statistically significant results (Wilks' λ = 0.95, F(4, 418) = 2.74, p = 0.03). Adherence varied dramatically between self-guided platforms (26%) and structured programs (93%). All RCTs demonstrated a high risk of bias.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings reveal a 'digital paradox' whereby the theoretical advantages of accessibility failed to translate into engagement without human facilitation. Digital interventions for young caregivers require hybrid models combining technological convenience with relational support, structured flexibility, and continuous co-design with young caregivers to optimize engagement and effectiveness. The limited number of included studies and uniformly high risk of bias across RCTs underscore the need for pragmatic trials with robust implementation evaluations.</p><p><strong>Prospero registration: </strong>CRD42024604175.</p>","PeriodicalId":11385,"journal":{"name":"Early Intervention in Psychiatry","volume":"20 7","pages":"e70215"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Early Intervention in Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.70215","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of digital interventions in supporting young caregivers' mental health, well-being, and caregiving experiences, and to assess implementation factors including adherence and acceptability.
Method: We systematically searched six databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, and Scopus) and grey literature sources from inception to March 2025, identifying studies evaluating digital interventions for caregivers aged 25 years or younger. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. Due to substantial heterogeneity, narrative synthesis was performed following the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guidelines.
Results: From 752 records, six studies met inclusion criteria, comprising three randomized controlled trials, one feasibility study, and two development/adaptation studies. Interventions included web-based platforms, mobile applications, audio-conferencing systems, and e-learning platforms. Digital tools showed limited effectiveness for mental health outcomes but demonstrated promise for quality-of-life improvements, with one trial showing statistically significant results (Wilks' λ = 0.95, F(4, 418) = 2.74, p = 0.03). Adherence varied dramatically between self-guided platforms (26%) and structured programs (93%). All RCTs demonstrated a high risk of bias.
Discussion: These findings reveal a 'digital paradox' whereby the theoretical advantages of accessibility failed to translate into engagement without human facilitation. Digital interventions for young caregivers require hybrid models combining technological convenience with relational support, structured flexibility, and continuous co-design with young caregivers to optimize engagement and effectiveness. The limited number of included studies and uniformly high risk of bias across RCTs underscore the need for pragmatic trials with robust implementation evaluations.
期刊介绍：
Early Intervention in Psychiatry publishes original research articles and reviews dealing with the early recognition, diagnosis and treatment across the full range of mental and substance use disorders, as well as the underlying epidemiological, biological, psychological and social mechanisms that influence the onset and early course of these disorders. The journal provides comprehensive coverage of early intervention for the full range of psychiatric disorders and mental health problems, including schizophrenia and other psychoses, mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders and personality disorders. Papers in any of the following fields are considered: diagnostic issues, psychopathology, clinical epidemiology, biological mechanisms, treatments and other forms of intervention, clinical trials, health services and economic research and mental health policy. Special features are also published, including hypotheses, controversies and snapshots of innovative service models.
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