An Integrative Review of the Support Needs of Informal Caregivers of Hematological Cancer Patients in the Period Immediately Following Discharge From Inpatient to Outpatient Care.

Abstract

Background: Preparing informal caregivers for a patient's transition to outpatient care is an important component of safe, quality hematological cancer care. The development of many novel therapies and emerging treatments has created opportunities to address the needs of informal caregivers following the discharge of patients from inpatient settings.

Objective: To review and synthesize the literature on the needs of informal caregivers of patients with a hematological malignancy postdischarge from inpatient care.

Interventions/methods: Integrative review methodology was used to explore the body of evidence available. This included a quality appraisal of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research findings, subsequent data extraction, and inductive thematic synthesis.

Results: One thousand eight articles were screened with 10 included in the review. Key insights into the needs of caregivers entering the outpatient setting were identified and grouped into key subheadings: Encountering complex emotions knowing what to know, little time for yourself, and collateral impact.

Conclusion: Findings convey the complex and multiple needs of informal caregivers of hematological cancer patients. With a growing population of people with hematological malignancies and innovations in outpatient cancer therapies, there is a pressing need to codesign interventions to support their caregivers.

Implications for practice: This review has identified a need for more robust research to coproduce interventions in collaboration with caregivers. In addition, interventions developed from further research should be tested in quality implementation science studies to determine their feasibility, sustainability, and impact on outcomes that matter to hematological cancer caregivers.