Caregiver burden interventions in speech-language pathology: A systematic review

Previous research has demonstrated that many caregivers of care recipients with communication and swallowing impairments suffer from caregiver burden. Existing research sheds light on the presence of burden and various predicting factors, but little information on interventions to reduce caregiver burden.

To determine how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) address caregiver burden in clinical practice.

A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and 1898 unique articles were assessed for eligibility from nine electronic databases. Only 11 studies carried out a caregiver burden intervention involving an SLP. Details of the interventions were extracted per the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) guidelines.

Results of the review revealed that SLP-led caregiver burden interventions can be effective in reducing burden. Multiple aspects of the intervention approaches, such as multidisciplinary care and targeting emotional burden, are discussed. Demographic factors, such as gender and socio-economic status (SES), are also taken into consideration.

This review suggests that SLPs can be effective at reducing caregiver burden through interventions involving caregivers across the lifespan and continuum of care.

What is already known on this subject Previous research has demonstrated that many caregivers of care recipients with communication and swallowing impairments suffer from caregiver burden. These caregivers range from parents of young children to spouses of individuals with dementia. However, it is unclear if and how SLPs address caregiver burden in clinical practice. What this paper adds to existing knowledge Using the RTSS, details of various caregiver burden interventions involving SLPs were identified. This review revealed that SLP-led caregiver burden interventions can be effective in reducing emotional and financial burden, as well as play a part in improving care-recipient outcomes. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? This systematic review demonstrates that efforts to reduce caregiver burden within SLP practice may yield benefits for both caregivers and care recipients. It provides clinicians with a preliminary resource to help consider caregiver burden interventions that best suit the needs of the caregivers and their care recipients.