Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38070939›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2023

Roles and experiences of informal caregivers of older adults in community and healthcare system navigation: a scoping review.

Boah Kim, Andrew Wister, Eireann O'dea, Barbara A Mitchell, Lun Li, Laura Kadowaki

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
34citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

34 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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  17. TRANSFER-I: Hospitalised Older Adults and Their Carers' Perspectives of the Transition Home: A Qualitative Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Boah KimDepartment of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada boah_kim@sfu.ca.ORCID 0000-0002-3104-8563
Andrew WisterDepartment of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Eireann O'deaDepartment of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Barbara A MitchellDepartment of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Lun LiGerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Laura KadowakiDepartment of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveInformal caregivers are playing a vital role in improving the degree to which older adults access community and healthcare systems in a more seamless and timely manner, thereby fulfilling their complex needs. It is critical to understand their experiences and perspectives while navigating these systems. This review aimed to identify and organise the research findings on the roles and experiences of informal caregivers of older adults while navigating community and healthcare systems.

designThis scoping review was undertaken according to the Joanna Briggs Institute's Reviewer manual. Four databases were used: AgeLine, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Medline to capture literature with a focus on informal caregivers whose care recipients are aged 55 years or older. Articles were included if they focused on examining the experience, perspective and/or role of informal caregivers in providing care for their older care recipients, while articles were excluded if they only focused on healthcare professionals or older adults.

resultsA total of 24 studies were identified that met the study inclusion criteria. This review elucidated the roles of caregivers as a primary system navigator and as an advocate for older adults. Numerous challenges/barriers in system navigation were uncovered, such as lack of consistency in fragmented systems, as well as facilitators, including interface/coordination roles. Finally, recommendations for better system navigation such as caregiver engagement and integration of continuity of care services were identified.

conclusionThe need to raise the visibility of the roles and experiences of informal caregivers in system navigation was highlighted. Further research needs to focus on implementing interventions for informal caregivers incorporating a care coordinator to fill the care gap within community and healthcare systems. This review has the potential to foster greater integration of community and healthcare systems.

Indexed as

CaregiversDelivery of Health CareAgedFamilyHealth PersonnelHumansMiddle AgedContinuity of CareInformal caregiversIntegrated careOlder adults with complex needsSystem navigation

Identifiers

PMID38070939
PMCPMC10729038

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.