Group-based interventions for caregivers to patients diagnosed with a brain tumor: A systematic review

Background: Individuals diagnosed with a primary brain tumor often depend on practical assistance and emotional support from family and social network. Supportive care interventions are therefore of importance to informal caregivers. The aim of this review was to identify and explore available evidence of outcomes of supportive group interventions for caregivers to patients diagnosed with a primary brain tumor. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Six databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Emcare, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO were searched for peer-reviewed publications. Quality of included publications was assessed by the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool and data synthesis followed Guidance on the Conduct of Narrative Synthesis in Systematic Reviews. Results: Five eligible publications were identified, published between 2007 and 2021, originating from Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, and Germany. Supportive group interventions for caregivers to patients diagnosed with a primary brain tumor were considered feasible, with outcomes evaluated positively in 5 publications. The group interaction within a supportive intervention created a trusted environment for caregivers to share their experiences. Group interactions represented an essential source of support and information to manage the caregiver role. Shared acknowledgment of their new role boosted caregivers' confidence in their abilities to deliver care. Conclusion: Interventions seeking to facilitate interaction between caregivers may provide an extra supportive resource for the caregivers. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to ascertain the optimal setting, content, and timing for providing caregivers a supportive group intervention.