Tay Jia Yee, Li Ziqiang, Goh Yong Shian
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.
Institute of Mental Health, Singapore City, Singapore.
J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2025 Apr;32(2):487-563. doi: 10.1111/jpm.13126. Epub 2024 Nov 5.
In Asia, many caregivers are culturally obliged to assume the role of taking care of individuals experiencing chronic schizophrenia, even as they grapple with stigma and compassion fatigue. Despite the significance of this phenomenon, the collective experiences of Asian caregivers remain poorly understood.
To synthesise qualitative evidence on the experiences of informal caregivers when caring for individuals with chronic schizophrenia in Asia.
A search was conducted on seven databases for studies published between 2013 and 2023. The included studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program tool. Data extraction was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Qualitative Extraction Form. The data synthesis was based on the framework by Sandelowski and Barroso.
Our review included the experiences of 1345 informal caregivers from 57 included studies. The analysis yielded the overarching theme of 'Navigating Challenges, Forging Resilience'. Three themes were identified: (i) challenges in caregiving, (ii) lack of support and (iii) coping and resilience.
Our findings highlighted the Asian caregivers' stressors, particularly cultural and traditional factors, a facet often overlooked in the literature.
Mental healthcare practitioners must provide caregivers with comprehensive information. Anticipatory guidance is essential during the initial stages of the diagnosis. To negate geographical limitations, caregiver-training sessions can be pre-recorded and posted to online platforms. Finally, cultural and spiritual beliefs can be integrated into the treatment plans for individuals with schizophrenia in the community.
Within the institutional setting, mental healthcare practitioners are encouraged to provide caregivers with comprehensible information or training in person and through written or online platforms, which can transcend geographical limitations. Anticipatory guidance is essential, especially during the initial stages of the diagnosis, when confusion and uncertainties are prevalent. Periodic home visits by mental healthcare practitioners can help ease caregivers' concerns and enhance their caregiving confidence. Finally, cultural and spiritual beliefs should be integrated into the treatment plans for individuals with schizophrenia in the community as it promotes cultural acceptability, encourages referrals to appropriate institutions and reduces the stigma of mental healthcare.
在亚洲，许多照顾者在文化上有义务承担起照顾慢性精神分裂症患者的责任，即便他们要应对污名化和同情疲劳。尽管这一现象意义重大，但亚洲照顾者的总体经历仍鲜为人知。
综合关于亚洲非正式照顾者照顾慢性精神分裂症患者经历的定性证据。
在七个数据库中检索2013年至2023年发表的研究。使用批判性评估技能计划工具对纳入的研究进行评估。数据提取基于乔安娜·布里格斯研究所（JBI）定性提取表。数据综合基于桑德洛斯基和巴罗斯的框架。
我们的综述纳入了57项纳入研究中1345名非正式照顾者的经历。分析得出了“应对挑战，铸就韧性”这一总体主题。确定了三个主题：（i）照顾中的挑战，（ii）缺乏支持，以及（iii）应对与韧性。
我们的研究结果突出了亚洲照顾者面临的压力源，尤其是文化和传统因素，这是文献中经常被忽视的一个方面。
精神卫生保健从业者必须为照顾者提供全面信息。在诊断初期，预期性指导至关重要。为消除地理限制，照顾者培训课程可以预先录制并发布到在线平台。最后，文化和精神信仰可以纳入社区精神分裂症患者的治疗计划。
在机构环境中，鼓励精神卫生保健从业者亲自并通过书面或在线平台为照顾者提供易懂的信息或培训，这可以超越地理限制。预期性指导至关重要，特别是在诊断初期，此时困惑和不确定性普遍存在。精神卫生保健从业者定期家访有助于减轻照顾者的担忧并增强他们的照顾信心。最后，文化和精神信仰应纳入社区精神分裂症患者的治疗计划，因为这能促进文化可接受性，鼓励转介到合适机构，并减少精神卫生保健的污名化。
