Chronic dermatoses affect not only sick individuals: a review of family and caregiver burden assessment tools.

Introduction: The focus in dermatology has shifted from solely treating skin conditions to considering the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their family members.

Aim: To identify and categorise instruments that assess the impact of chronic skin diseases on the QoL of family members and caregivers.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted using the Scopus and Medline databases, with search terms related to QoL, dermatology, and family/caregivers. Articles published up to January 2024 were reviewed, and relevant instruments were categorised.

Results: The search yielded 2799 papers, of which 153 were reviewed in detail. Twenty instruments were identified and categorised into generic, dermatology-specific, and disease-specific tools.

Conclusions: The review highlights the importance of assessing family QoL in dermatology. Integrating these tools into clinical practice can enhance support for family members, improving overall patient care. Further development and refinement of these tools are necessary to capture the full impact on family QoL.