SynthesisFrontiers in digital health2025
Efficacy of digital technology-based interventions for reducing caregiver burden and stress: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in digital health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effectiveness of eHealth Interventions in Alleviating Burden on Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- Social media use and positive aspects of caregiving: a longitudinal test of the social compensation hypothesis.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2026Article
- Tele-Group Cognitive Behavioural Family Intervention for Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders and Their Caregivers: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Experiences of Home-Dwelling Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers With Digital Health Services: Qualitative Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- The effect of tele-interventions on family caregiver burden: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC nursing · 2026Article
- Mental-Health-Related Temporary Work Disability Among Informal Caregivers During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain (March-June 2020): A Nationwide Occupational Health Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Patients' and healthcare providers' perceptions in outpatient palliative cancer care services at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka: prospects for adoption of a digital health intervention.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Digital Support for Family Caregivers: Potential and Challenges of a Hypothetical AI Care Companion.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- A brief telehealth brain health program for family caregivers of persons living with dementia: the Brain Health for MeFrontiers in psychology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Demographic aging and increasing dependency associated with chronic diseases have intensified the caregiving responsibilities of family members, often leading to significant burden and stress. Digital technology-based interventions have emerged as promising strategies to support family caregivers, yet their effectiveness remains inconsistent across studies. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following JBI methodology and PRISMA guidelines. Literature searches were performed in CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete, Scopus, and Web of Science (August 2024, updated September 2025). Studies were included if they involved family caregivers aged ≥18 years supporting individuals with functional dependency, implemented technology-based interventions, and employed experimental designs. Two independent reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Meta-analyses were performed to calculate standardized effect sizes (Cohen's d) for caregiver burden, stress, and quality of life outcomes. Results: Sixteen studies comprising 2,716 caregivers were included, predominantly randomized controlled trials. Interventions utilized diverse digital modalities including mobile applications, websites, telemonitoring, and tele-coaching, with most delivered by nurses. Meta-analysis revealed significant short-term reductions in caregiver burden (d = -0.65, 95% CI: -1.00 to -0.30, Conclusion: Digital technology-based interventions demonstrate moderate effectiveness in reducing caregiver burden and stress in the short term. However, considerable variability in outcomes suggests that effectiveness is influenced by intervention characteristics, delivery modalities, and contextual factors. Future research should focus to strengthen the consistency of the findings, including subgroup analyses by type of intervention and evaluation of their long-term effects. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024574765.
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Registered trials
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.