A comparison of studies on the quality of life of primary caregivers of stroke survivors: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Few studies have been conducted on the quality of life (QOL) of primary caregivers of stroke survivors (with and without aphasia), with little consistency in the methods of evaluation. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature was to determine the appropriateness of study designs and instruments used to assess QOL in caregivers of stroke survivors. METHOD: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles of caregiver's QOL where CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were searched. RESULTS: Nine studies that met the inclusion criteria used different QOL instruments and study designs. None of the instruments were specific to caregivers of stroke survivors. CONCLUSION: Future studies are warranted to assess the quality of life of caregivers of stroke survivors with and without aphasia.

Caregiver strain and caregiver burden of primary caregivers of stroke survivors with and without aphasia.

Little is known about how the burden and strain of caring for stroke patients with or without aphasia affects primary caregivers. This article (a) critically examines the literature on the burden and strain of care experienced by caregivers of stroke patients and (b) examines the relationship between aphasia and caregiver burden and strain. Two literature reviews of three databases were conducted. Fourteen articles (12 quantitative articles, 1 mixed-design article, and 1 qualitative article) were found to comply with the study criteria for the first literature search. A second literature search focused on the effects of stroke survivors' aphasia on caregiving; none of the articles retrieved met the inclusion criteria. This article suggests that there is a lack of research in this area and that several key initiatives are needed, including the development of an instrument with psychometric properties appropriate for assessing the burden and strain on caregivers of stroke patients. Implications for future nursing practice and research are highlighted.