A Comparison of Studies on the Quality of Life of Primary Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Few studies have been conducted on the quality of life (QOL) of primary caregivers of stroke survivors (with and without aphasia), with little consistency in the methods of evaluation. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature was to determine the appropriateness of study designs and instruments used to assess QOL in caregivers of stroke survivors. Method: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles of caregiver’s QOL where CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were searched. Results: Nine studies that met the inclusion criteria used different QOL instruments and study designs. None of the instruments were specific to caregivers of stroke survivors. Conclusion: Future studies are warranted to assess the quality of life of caregivers of stroke survivors with and without aphasia.

Keywords:

• aphasia
• caregiver
• health-related quality of life
• HRQOL
• quality of life
• QOL
• stroke