The complexity of caring ( Part 2 ): Moderators of detrimental health and well-being outcomes for caregivers of people with chronic wounds

Objective: This review assesses the caregiving literature to understand what is known about health and well-being outcomes for informal carers in the context of caring for people living with chronic wounds. Part 1 provided background information on caregiver characteristics, as well as physical and psychological deficits related to caregiving. Part 2 looks at the positive aspects of caregiving through a number of moderating variables: social support, caregiving mastery, and subjective caregiver qualities. Method: A structured literature review was carried out using the databases, CINAHL Plus, PsychARTICLES, PsychINFO, and PubMed. Keywords were: [‘caregiving’ or ‘carer’ or ‘caregiver’] and [‘health’] and [‘well-being’ or ‘wellbeing’] and [‘quality of life’ or ‘QoL’]. Articles written in the English language and published in peer-reviewed journals were considered for inclusion. Relevant book chapters and web references were also assessed for inclusion. A total of 52 references were used in the review. Result: The relationship between caregiving, health and well-being is a complex one. Much research indicates detrimental physical and psychological outcomes for caregivers. However, a number of moderating variables appear to ‘buffer’ the stress of caregiving and may even lead to positive outcomes. Conclusion: Much of the caregiving literature focuses on people caring for relatives with specific health and/or mental illnesses. To date, there has been insufficient attention paid to health and well-being outcomes for carers of people living with chronic wounds. Given the predicted rise in the incidence of chronic wounds in this country over the coming decades, it is vital that we understand how to maximise health and well-being outcomes for the carers of chronic wound patients.