Dyadic Empowerment Intervention on Self Care and Quality of Life for People with Chronic Illness: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose: This scoping review mapped and synthesized evidence on dyadic empowerment (DE) interventions for individuals living with chronic illness and their significant others, with a focus on self-care and quality of life outcomes. Methods: The review followed Arksey and O’Malley's five-stage framework and adhered to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search of EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL was conducted from database inception to March 2024. Eligible studies included individuals with chronic illness and examined dyadic empowerment interventions involving significant others. Findings: Eight studies were included. Two main modes of delivery were identified: digital health and face-to-face interventions. Across studies, intervention components commonly included education, monitoring, support, problem-solving, and skill development. Most studies reported improvements in self-care and quality of life, although intervention duration and frequency were inconsistently reported, limiting comparability and replicability. Conclusion: The findings suggest that dyadic empowerment interventions may support self-care and quality of life by strengthening relational involvement in chronic illness management. However, clearer reporting and greater standardization of intervention components, duration, and frequency are needed to strengthen future research and support implementation in holistic nursing practice.