Quality of Life among Family Caregivers of Patients on Hemodialysis and its Relevant Factors: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers are considered as hidden patients experiencing physical and mental disorders. This affects the quality of not only their lives but also the health care provided to patients.This study aimed to investigate the quality of life (QOL) and its related factors among the caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

METHODS: This systematic review was conducted based on the eight-step guidelines presented by the York University. The databases relevant to the medical field including Nursing and Allied Health, Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, Embase, PsycINFO and Psychology Library were used. Finally, 12 articles observing the inclusion criteria and with regard to the research questions were found. The data obtained from these articles were summarized, classified, and analyzed.

RESULTS: QOL among Family Caregivers of Patients on Hemodialysis is low, compared to the general population; however, their QOL is higher than the patients under their care. Factors relevant to the QOL for caregivers including age, gender, perceived social support, perceived burden of care, affliction with other diseases (lupus, hypertension, hypothyroidism and depression), intellectual understanding of the limitations of the patient's disease in their daily life, employment of adaptation strategies, better marital relationships, accepting self and family relationship with the patient (mother and wife). Furthermore, the factors associated with care takers affecting the quality of caregivers' lives were age, QOL and the type of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis enjoyed low QOL. Since there is a direct relationship between family caregivers' quality and patients' QOL, health care system and health policy makers should pay more attention to family caregivers.