Key result
Bereaved caregivers of advanced HF patients face high burden, limited communication, and inadequate palliative care.
Why the study?
Heart failure is a life-limiting condition with a poor and unpredictable prognosis, prompting a review to synthesise evidence on bereaved caregivers' experiences of end-of-life care.
Systematic Review
Bereaved caregivers of patients with advanced heart failure face significant challenges, including inadequate communication, high caregiving burden, and limited formal support services.
Requires enhanced palliative integration and caregiver support in advanced HF; extends evidence on burden into bereavement.
BACKGROUND: Heart Failure is a life-limiting condition with a poor and uniquely unpredictable prognosis. The aim of this review is to present and synthesise the current evidence around bereaved caregivers' experiences of end of life care for people with Heart Failure. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using four electronic databases (CINHAL, Medline, BND, PsycINFO). Data was analysed and presented using a narrative synthesis approach. RESULTS: Eight articles were included within this review. Themes included: Limited and inadequate communication around the condition (including prognosis, preparations for death and the aim of palliative care), the burden of caregiving, and the limited provision of services and formal support. CONCLUSION: Bereaved caregivers experience unique and significant challenges when caring for someone dying from Heart Failure. However, further research is required to greater understand the experiences of bereaved caregivers of people with Heart Failure.
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Diggle et al. (2022) conducted a systematic review in Advanced Heart Failure. End of life care and palliative care was evaluated on Bereaved caregivers' experiences of end of life care. Bereaved caregivers of patients with advanced heart failure experience significant challenges, including limited communication, high caregiving burden, and inadequate provision of palliative services.
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