Male caregivers: a scoping review of impacts, needs, challenges, and best practices

Although they play a crucial role in care trajectories and the quality of life of those they support, male caregivers (MCs) remain largely unrecognized, and the services available to assist them remain often insufficient or inadequate. This scoping review aims to identify their needs, challenges, and practices to foster an optimal support framework. Five scientific databases and the grey literature were reviewed for publications produced worldwide since 2000. Ninety-nine studies were included and the results showed that MCs encounter emotional, physical, social, economic, and legal challenges, necessitating flexible and tailored approaches. The findings also highlight the crucial role of family, community, and healthcare system support, as well as the importance of access to personalized support services and training programs that address their specific needs. This scoping review may contribute to the development and implementation of more inclusive and better-adapted interventions, services and programs that are better suited to the realities of MCs.