What skills do informal caregivers of people dependent on activities of daily living improve caregivers’ quality of life? Protocol for a systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54103/2282-0930/29812

Keywords:

Informal caregiver, caregiver training, quality of life, ADL, protocol, systematic review, caregiving skills, skill mix, primary care, public health

Abstract

Background: The increasing aging population [1] has increased the demand for caregiving in daily living activities (ADLs), positioning informal caregivers as key figures in care models [2,3,4]. Objective: This protocol outlines a systematic review, which is grounded in Smith’s Caregiving Effectiveness Model [5], designed to identify and categorize the skills transferred through educational interventions by healthcare professionals that improve informal caregivers’ quality of life (QoL). Study Design: Systematic review protocol following PRISMA-P guidelines [6]. Methods: We will search six databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and CINAHL) for randomized controlled trials, cluster-RCTs, and quasi-experimental studies involving skill-improvement interventions aimed at informal caregivers of individuals dependent on ADLs. Outcomes of interest include caregiver QoL, burden, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy, and depression. Risk of bias will be assessed via RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools [7,8]. Data will be synthesized narratively according to the domains in Smith’s Caregiving Effectiveness Model [5]. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024607229

Keywords: Informal caregiver, caregiver training, quality of life, ADL, protocol, systematic review, caregiving skills, skill mix, primary care, public health

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References

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Published

2026-01-12

How to Cite

1.
Garavelloni D, Rega ML, Specchia ML. What skills do informal caregivers of people dependent on activities of daily living improve caregivers’ quality of life? Protocol for a systematic review. ebph [Internet]. 2026 [cited 2026 Feb. 4];21(1). Available from: https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/ebph/article/view/29812

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Systematic reviews and meta- and pooled analyses

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