Caregiving Experiences of Caregivers of Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.
Huan Xu, Chao Wu, Changchang Chen and 5 others
PMID 40579751WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of teenagers with inflammatory bowel disease felt shocked, guilty and financially strained, but many found strength through family and healthcare team support.
Key findings
01Many caregivers reported being unprepared for their adolescent's inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and experienced shock, denial or overwhelming distress.
02Caregivers worried about medication side effects and about transition to adult care.
03Caregivers said support from family and healthcare providers helped them continue caregiving.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The included studies came only from the United States, Canada and China, so experiences may differ in other cultures. Only one included study was rated Grade A and eight were Grade B, so the evidence base is mostly moderate quality. Many caregivers were interviewed in healthcare organisations, which may shape what they said. The synthesis describes caregivers' experiences and cannot show whether any support, education or transition process changes outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that caregiver support interventions improve inflammatory bowel disease outcomes. The synthesis reports caregivers' experiences and does not test any treatment or intervention.