SynthesisHealth expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy2026
Psychosocial Burden of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis of Patient and Caregiver Perspectives.
Synthesis in Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Psychosocial Burden of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis of Patient and Caregiver Perspectives.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAdolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that occurs in adolescents, exerting multidimensional and bidirectional impacts on the physical and mental health and social functioning of both patients and their caregivers. Prevalent misconceptions and stigma, insufficient psychological care in clinical practice, and inadequate social support may further exacerbate their negative psychosocial experiences.
objectiveThis review aimed to integrate and elucidate the core themes and evolving mechanisms of the psychosocial experiences of adolescents with AIS and their caregivers, reveal the interactional dynamics between the two groups throughout the disease trajectory, and provide an evidence-based foundation for optimising healthcare and social support.
methodsBased on the qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) framework, the meta-aggregation method developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was employed. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science was conducted from database inception to April 2026. Qualitative studies exploring the psychological burden and lived experiences of adolescents with AIS and their caregivers were included.
resultsNineteen qualitative studies from 10 countries, involving 323 participants, were included. At the patient level, three core themes were synthesized: acute shock and multidimensional responses during the initial diagnosis phase; dynamic adaptation and transient positive experiences during the treatment phase; and divergent pathways of posttraumatic growth and residual trauma during the recovery phase. At the caregiver level, three core themes were identified: a structural burden comprising both resource safeguarding and logistical demands; an imbalance in support systems characterized by a deficiency in professional guidance and disruption of family equilibrium; and a progression of emotional exhaustion from self-blame and intense pressure to depressive symptomatology. Furthermore, a dynamic of conflictual intimacy, encompassing both direct interactive conflict and enmeshment within the family system, emerged between patients and caregivers.
conclusionThe psychological experiences of adolescents with AIS evolve through distinct temporal phases, while caregivers' psychological burden follows a cascading pathway from structural strain to emotional exhaustion. The two parties are locked in a bidirectional interaction shaped by the structural tension between parental protection and adolescent autonomy. Healthcare professionals should tailor psychological support to the patient's disease stage, ensure transparent information delivery, and provide transitional training for caregivers to mitigate the transmission of stress. At the societal level, it is essential to strengthen early screening and public education, eliminate stigma, and provide accessible support to help AIS families navigate role transitions throughout the disease course. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: Two adolescents with AIS and two family caregivers participated as co-investigators in this review. They contributed to refining the research question, prioritizing outcomes of importance, interpreting the findings, and reviewing the manuscript for clarity and relevance.
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