Exploring the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of caregivers of women with Ovarian Cancer: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) is among the most lethal gynecological malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Significant attention has been given to the experiences of OC patients; however, the experiences of their family caregivers have been largely overlooked. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this scoping review is to characterize the scope, nature and focus of the existing literature describing the experiences of caregivers' of individuals with OC during the caregiving process and after the care recipient's death, and to identify gaps in the literature. METHODS: This scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework. Comprehensive searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstracts to identify literature on caregivers of individuals living with OC. A total of 739 titles and abstracts were screened by two reviewers, 123 full-text articles were assessed, and 32 met inclusion criteria for data extraction. Themes were extracted after the reviewers carefully read through the selected articles. RESULTS: Main themes included (1) the well-being and mental health of caregivers, with two sub-themes (a) emotional well-being and mental health, (b) grief, bereavement and post-traumatic stress disorder; (2) challenges facing caregivers, with seven sub-themes (a) escalating patients needs and patient experiences, (b) interactions with doctors and medical system, (c) social isolation, (d) family responsibilities, (e) work stressors and financial burdens, (f) health behaviours and inadequate self-care, and (g) intrapersonal stressors; and (3) positive coping strategies with sub-themes (a) spirituality and (b) social support. CONCLUSION: This scoping review highlights an urgent need for tailored support for OC caregivers and may provide valuable insights for clinical practice in the field of caregiver wellbeing. Future research and greater awareness of the lived experience of OC caregivers may inform policymakers to develop policy initiatives promoting more family-centered care.