Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Informal Caregivers of People Living With Stroke: A Scoping Review of Recent Literature

Aims: The study aimed to explore the recent scientific literature regarding the knowledge, attitudes and practices of informal caregivers towards supporting a person with astroke. Design: This study was a scoping review that followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Scoping Review extension) guidelines. Data Sources: Searches were conducted across Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane, SCOPUS and Web of Science from January 2009 to January 2024. Review Methods: The search results from the various database sources were collated in EndNote 20 and duplicates were removed. Following the removal of duplicates, the studies were imported to Covidence and filtered based on the well-defined eligibility criteria. Three reviewers independently conducted screening and data extraction, and any conflicts were resolved through discussion. Results: The analysis included a total of 37 studies that focused on the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to stroke caregiving. Of these, 15 studies addressed knowledge, 24 studies examined attitudes and 33 studies looked at caregiver practices. Conclusion: This scoping review finds that lack of knowledge impacts the attitudes and practices of informal stroke caregivers. With the increasing incidence of stroke and the growing number of caregivers, there is an urgent need for targeted, individualised interventions accompanied by comprehensive evaluation. Impact: Caregivers of people with stroke are often unprepared to provide care. Further research is needed to support these individuals, ensuring improved quality of life and better health outcomes for both the caregiver and the person with stroke. Patient or Public Contribution: Not applicable.