Challenges Faced by Informal Caregivers Providing Medication Management in Serious Illness: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

Background

Patients with serious illness rely on informal caregivers for most care needs. Among many complex tasks, informal caregivers are responsible for providing medication management for pain and symptom management. A task marked by a high degree physical strain while coping with feelings of grief, stress, and anxiety by the caregiver.

Objective

This narrative literature study aims to provide an insight into what is known about the specific challenges faced by informal caregivers providing medication management for seriously ill patients.

Methods

The search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. The final set includes 6 articles, with an additional 8 articles related to the topic.

Results

Six major themes were identified that impact informal caregiver’s provision of medication management: 1. Emotional/fearfulness, 2. Physical impairments, 3. Low literacy/cognitive ability, 4. Support/communication with the healthcare team, 5. Competing responsibilities, and 6. Personhood.

Conclusions

Informal caregivers are expected to provide medication management for their loved ones and are expected to do so at a quasi-professional standard without formal education in how to monitor and recognize for the intended effect or potential unexpected side effects. Healthcare teams need to ensure timely, comprehensive, and valuable education on monitoring of medication management be provided to informal caregivers. Further investigation is required to identify effective strategies and tools to help informal caregivers meet their loved ones with serious illness medication management needs.