Abstract: SA-PO1116
Interventions for Informal Caregivers of Patients with ESKD on Dialysis: A Systematic Review of Effectiveness and Mechanisms
Session Information
- Kidney Replacement Therapy and Care Delivery Innovations
October 24, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis
Authors
- Bandi, Satya Sai Sri, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Manresa-Cumarin, Karem P., Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Claros, Ana Gabriela, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Lizarazo Jimenez, Maria, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Gerald-Ugwu, Favour, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Bhatta, Gaurab, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Gionfriddo, Michael Ross, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Boehmer, Kasey, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Background
Informal caregivers are essential in supporting patients with ESKD receiving dialysis but often experience substantial physical, emotional, and cognitive burden. Although interventions like education, coping skills training, peer and family-centered approaches were developed, they vary widely, and their mechanisms of benefit remain unclear. Using Cumulative Complexity Model, this systematic review examined whether caregiver interventions primarily addressed caregiver capacity, workload, or both.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review of English-language intervention studies targeting informal caregivers of adults with ESKD receiving dialysis. Eligible studies included randomized controlled and pre-post intervention studies reporting caregiver-related outcomes, such as burden, psychological health, quality of life, knowledge and self-efficacy. We extracted data on study design, intervention characteristics, delivery, comparator, outcomes, measures, and effect. Intervention components were mapped to caregiver capacity domains, including knowledge, skills, psychological, social, and workload domains, including task, cognitive, emotional, and logistical demands.
Results
Eighteen studies evaluated interventions for informal caregivers of dialysis patients, mostly in hemodialysis (n=16) and fewer in peritoneal dialysis (n=2). Interventions were heterogeneous and included education, home-care training, family-based or dyadic programs, self-management, stress-management and coping approaches, peer support, and day-care support. Caregiver burden was the most common outcome, followed by stress, anxiety, quality of life, self-efficacy, coping, and caregiving ability. Most interventions targeted caregiver capacity, while fewer addressed caregiving workload. Evidence showed mixed but generally favorable trends, including reduced burden, stress, fatigue, or anxiety and improved self-efficacy or quality of life, although heterogeneity limited direct comparison.
Conclusion
Caregiver interventions for dialysis patients are diverse and show inconsistent effects on caregiver outcomes. Future interventions should more explicitly address both dimensions of caregiver complexity. More rigorous studies with standardized outcome measures and longer follow-up are needed to determine which interventions are most effective.