VIEWS OF MEDICAL STAFF AND FAMILY PHYSICIANS ON ASSISTING FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN PRIMARY CARE NETWORKS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Mohammed Ahmed ismail Ghobri*, Sahar khalid Almashhour, Zarah Ahmed Ghazwani, Huda Mohammed Otaif, Almonther Hussain Wassly, Ali Essa Tawhari, Fatimah Mohammed Hanbashi, Asma Ali Makwa, Ibtisam Ali Alsabai, Ali yahya maashi

Background: Family caregivers are crucial in managing chronic illnesses, providing up to 90% of care for individuals with frailty, disabilities, or chronic conditions. However, they face significant mental and emotional strain, exacerbated by insufficient healthcare system support. Primary care providers, including family physicians, are well-positioned to identify and assist caregivers, but gaps in support mechanisms persist.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted to examine family physicians’ perspectives on supporting family caregivers. The review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework, complemented by thematic synthesis. Studies from 2009–2019 were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Medline, and CINAHL. Data from 27 included studies were analyzed using NVivo to identify descriptive and analytical themes.

Results: The review identified three main themes: (a) primary care as a strategic point for caregiver support, (b) the potential of collaborative care models, and (c) challenges in consistent caregiver-centered care. Physicians acknowledged their ethical responsibility to caregivers but cited barriers such as limited time, insufficient reimbursement, and fragmented healthcare systems. Few primary care practices had established caregiverspecific protocols, and caregivers often failed to self-identify or seek support. Collaborative care models, involving multidisciplinary teams, were highlighted as optimal but remain underutilized.

Conclusion: Family physicians recognize the need for caregiver support but face systemic barriers to implementation. Addressing these requires policy reforms, dedicated funding, and improved physician training. Integrating caregivers into primary care practices through structured protocols and collaborative models could enhance caregiver support, improve patient outcomes, and alleviate physician workload.