Caregiver burden, anxiety, and quality-of-life among informal caregivers of patient with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: This review provides a summary of the current understanding of the mental well-being, burden, and quality of life (QoL) of the head and neck cancer informal caregivers (ICs). Our goal is to enhance recognition of ICs' challenges and inform the development of targeted social support interventions for this population.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched on October 8, 2024. Quantitative data on ICs were extracted and coded into themes of burden, anxiety, or QoL, with synthesis of the data undertaken.

RESULTS

Fifty studies (15 cohort studies, 35 cross-sectional studies), including 4289 informal caregivers, were included in the review. The majority were female (70.48%), and spouses/partners of the patients (63.35%). We categorized data into three key themes: caregiver burden, anxiety (mental well-being), and QoL. Fourteen cross-sectional studies were rated as high quality, while twenty-one were evaluated as moderate quality. One cohort study was rated as high quality, six as moderate quality, and eight as low quality. Research indicates that caregivers of head and neck cancer patients commonly experience mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cancer-related fear, alongside significantly increased caregiving burdens and reduced QoL.

CONCLUSION

Substantial heterogeneity is observed across included studies. The mental health, caregiving burden, and QoL of primary caregivers for HNC patients exhibit dynamic temporal interdependence. Key correlates include female caregivers, patient symptom burden, financial toxicity, and patient-caregiver dyadic interdependence. Future interventions should target high-risk groups during critical treatment phases through skill-building and psychosocial support to enhance caregiving resilience.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024617454.