The barriers and facilitators family caregivers experience when participating in resource-limited hospital care: a qualitative systematic review.

Background: In many resource-limited settings, understaffed hospitals rely on patients' families to provide care during admission. These care tasks are often performed informally, untrained and unsupported. The WHO has called for innovative approaches to tackle health worker shortages globally. Family participation interventions could be such an innovation, but current family participation should be understood before implementation. This review explored the barriers and facilitators family caregivers experience participating in resource-limited adult hospital care.

Methods: For this qualitative systematic review, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and the Global Health Library were searched from inception to 17 February 2023. Studies were included if they described experiences of family caregivers participating in hospital-like environments, were performed in a low- or middle-income country and included qualitative data. Open coding was performed, followed by thematic analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument.

Results: 3099 studies were screened, and 16 were included, involving 466 participants. All studies were published between 2009 and 2023. Three studies were performed in Africa, three in South America and 10 in Asia. 13 main themes were identified, seven for barriers and six for facilitators, including 50 subthemes. The main barriers identified were caregiver burden, a discouraging hospital environment, economic burden, ineffective collaboration with health workers, lack of support, sacrificing personal life to care and unpreparedness for caregiving. The main facilitators identified were a caregiving mindset, competence for caregiving, effective collaboration with health workers, encouraging hospital environment, sufficient financial means and supportive caregiving systems.

Discussion: This review presents the first overview of barriers and facilitators experienced by family caregivers participating in resource-limited hospital care. Research in more contexts and among other stakeholders is necessary to comprehend family participation holistically. To improve family participation, this review suggests prioritising educational interventions.

Prospero registration number: CRD42023384414.