Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40625039›Full record

ArticlePalliative & supportive care2025

The caregiver's journey: A qualitative study on the integration of family caregivers of advanced cancer patients in outpatient settings in Germany.

Petya Zyumbileva, Ute Goerling, Anne Letsch, Stefan M Gold, Matthias Rose, Christof von Kalle

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Palliative & supportive care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Petya ZyumbilevaClinical Study Center (CSC) of Charité and BIH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6448-433X
Ute GoerlingCharité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Anne LetschUniversity Cancer Center Schleswig-Holstein, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
Stefan M GoldDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Matthias RoseDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Christof von KalleClinical Study Center (CSC) of Charité and BIH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveFamily caregivers play a critical yet often overlooked role in healthcare, facing the dual challenge of providing clinical care while managing their emotional well-being. Although several studies have investigated the supportive care needs and services for caregivers of advanced cancer patients integrated into specialized palliative care inpatient units, little is known about cancer caregiver integration and support structures in German outpatient cancer care. This qualitative study addresses this gap by exploring the experiences of family caregivers in Germany, using a dyadic approach to assess their needs, identify referral strategies, and evaluate oncologists' perspectives on improving caregiver integration and support.

methodsThematic analysis was conducted on semi-structured interviews with 14 advanced cancer patients, 15 family caregivers, and 3 oncologists. MAXQDA software facilitated the identification of key themes and codes.

resultsThree interconnected themes emerged: (1) The Impact of Illness on the Dyadic Relationship, (2) Communication with Physicians and Understanding of Healthcare Information, and (3) Challenges and Preferences in Navigating Healthcare Services and Psychosocial Support. SIGNIFICANCE OF

resultsThe findings highlight the need for enhanced support in caregiving to improve cancer care quality, emphasizing that early palliative care integration is vital for addressing caregiver needs as a core component of comprehensive cancer care. Healthcare practices should adopt personalized, proactive support strategies from diagnosis, implement regular needs assessments, and leverage digital healthcare tools to enhance the efficacy and efficiency of caregiver support.

Indexed as

CaregiversNeoplasmsAdultAgedFemaleGermanyHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPalliative CareQualitative ResearchSocial Supportdyadfamily caregiversGermanyoutpatient cancer carepsychosocial support

Identifiers

PMID40625039
PMCPMC13166349

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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.