Background The rising prevalence of neurodivergent conditions, coupled with the challenge faced by health and social care services to provide adequate support, is increasing the pressure on family carers to fulfil these care needs. Family carers also need support to maintain their own health and wellbeing while providing care sustainably. The neurodiversity movement has provided science and society with a new perspective to help neurodivergent individuals, especially children and young people, enhance their quality of life. However, the evidence regarding the experiences of family carers of neurodivergent children and young people appears fragmented, limited and disconnected. Aim This article introduces a protocol for a scoping review that systematically and thoroughly maps the available evidence on the experiences of family carers of neurodivergent children and young people. The review will focus on synthesising available evidence on family carers’ understanding, attitudes, and perceptions of neurodiversity, as well as the challenges they face, their needs, coping strategies, and interventions to support them. Methods The scoping review will search six databases (PsycINFO, CINAHL, Medline, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and ASSIA), as well as relevant grey literature sources. Adhering to best practice, using the framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley 1 , the following five stages will be performed: 1) Identifying the research question, 2) Identifying relevant studies, 3) Selecting and screening studies, 4) Charting/extracting the data, and 5) Collating, summarising, and reporting the results. The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) guidelines will be employed and reported. Conclusions This review presents a narrative synthesis of the available literature on the experiences of family carers of neurodivergent children and young people. The findings will help to determine whether a systematic review is warranted and inform future primary research in the growing field of neurodiversity and family caregiving.

Student carers in higher education institutions (HEIs) is an emerging policy issue in many countries. Researchers have sought to synthesise the literature on student carers in HEIs. Runacres et al. (2024) conducted a scoping review, which included 14 studies, and Knopf et al. (2022) conducted a systematic review of university students who are caring for an older adult, which included six studies. These reviews identified some key themes discussed in the literature. However, there are further areas of discussion that have yet to be explored in the evidence to date. This observation is in the context of a growing body of international literature published on the topic and the greater visibility of family carers post-pandemic. One key area yet to be examined is the policy and practice responses to student carers in HEIs in different countries. The scope of this review will be broader than previous reviews with a specific focus on policy and practice responses regarding this population. This scoping review will: examine definitional issues concerning student carers in HEIs; summarise studies from different countries that provide estimates of the number of student carers in HEIs; identify theoretical perspectives and concepts underpinning research on this topic; and assess the available evidence on the value and outcomes of supports. The 5-stage methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) will be used to guide this scoping review, as described in detail in this protocol. The findings of the scoping review will be used to inform the enhancement of supports for student carers in HEIs. A range of vehicles will be used to disseminate the findings, including conference presentations, publication in an international peer-reviewed journal, and preparation of a policy brief to disseminate the findings of this scoping review to policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.

Student carers in higher education institutions (HEIs) is an emerging policy issue in many countries. Researchers have sought to synthesise the literature on student carers in HEIs. Runacres et al. (2024) conducted a scoping review, which included 14 studies, and Knopf et al. (2022) conducted a systematic review of university students who are caring for an older adult, which included six studies. These reviews identified some key themes discussed in the literature. However, there are further areas of discussion that have yet to be explored in the evidence to date. This observation is in the context of a growing body of international literature published on the topic and the greater visibility of family carers post-pandemic. One key area yet to be examined is the policy and practice responses to student carers in HEIs in different countries. The scope of this review will be broader than previous reviews with a specific focus on policy and practice responses regarding this population. This scoping review will: examine definitional issues concerning student carers in HEIs; summarise studies from different countries that provide estimates of the number of student carers in HEIs; identify theoretical perspectives and concepts underpinning research on this topic; and assess the available evidence on the value and outcomes of supports. The 5-stage methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) will be used to guide this scoping review, as described in detail in this protocol. The findings of the scoping review will be used to inform the enhancement of supports for student carers in HEIs. A range of vehicles will be used to disseminate the findings, including conference presentations, publication in an international peer-reviewed journal, and preparation of a policy brief to disseminate the findings of this scoping review to policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.

Most employees will experience at least one episode of caregiving during their working lives. While work is important for carers' identity and well-being, the increasing complexity of caregiving situations and the often unpredictable needs of care recipients means that working carers may need to informally adjust when, where and how they work. The manner in which this informal flexibility is enacted is not well understood. Using a qualitative research design, this paper provides an insight into employees' experiences of combining work and caregiving and gives voice to working carers and the daily struggles they face. Drawing on the literature on work-family conflict (WFC) theory, signalling theory and flexible working, our research highlights the importance of informal flexibility, and the mediating role of line managers and co-workers in providing access to this flexibility. We identify the enabling mechanisms, or explicit signals of support, through which carer-friendly informal flexibility is enacted, namely: reassurance and pre-emptive support; carer advocacy; and idiosyncratic deal-making (i-deals). We argue that when these enabling mechanisms are in place, WFC is alleviated and attachment to the workforce is facilitated. Where the enabling mechanisms are not accessible, WFC increases and attachment to the workforce is hindered.

While work-care reconciliation strategies can benefit family carers, employers, wider society and the economy, juggling family caregiving responsibilities with paid employment can lead to role strain. Family carers frequently find themselves engaged in role decisions and role negotiations and being faced with decisions to alter their work commitments in order to fulfil their caregiving responsibilities. The purpose of this study was to explore family carers' experiences of modifying work arrangements to accommodate caregiving responsibilities for an ill or dependant family member. Ten face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with family carers in Ireland, which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings highlighted the value placed on work by family carers, but despite this, the caring role always took precedence over the employee role. Family carers adopted a combination of strategies, and where possible, carved out a carer-friendly career for themselves. The findings also revealed the key triggers for work alterations and the sacrifices made by family carers. It is important that family carers are supported by employers to successfully balance work with caregiving responsibilities and that an array of work options are available to them, so that they can make better-informed choices regarding work-care reconciliation.

Background: Young carers are young people who care for a relative or a friend with an illness, disability, frailty, a mental health issue or addiction. Across the world, it is challenging to calculate the exact numbers due to the invisible nature of their role that can exist due to stigmatisation and fear of authoritative intrusion. As young carers reach 16 years and over, future career prospects become more significant. Young carers are more likely than their peers not to be in education, employment, or training and are more likely to do poorly at school or college than their non-caregiving peers due to the demands of caring. Recognising that positive engagement at school is a vital correlate of positive employment outcomes, young carers are at risk as their caring role can limit the range of employment opportunities open to them. This paper outlines the protocol for a robust synthesis of the literature surrounding young carers and their career perceptions. The scoping review will address the research question ‘What is known from the literature about young carers in school and their career perceptions?’ The overall aim of this paper is to present a protocol for the scoping review to map the key concepts, types of evidence, and gaps in research related to young carers in school and their future careers. Methods: The review will follow Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and Levac et al.’s, (2010) scoping review framework. The steps involved include: (1) research question identification; (2) relevant studies identification; (3) selection of studies; (4) data charting; (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results; and (6) stakeholders' consultation. Conclusions: The scoping review is an appropriate first step to employ in presenting the literature to inform a larger research study on young carers’ experiences in school and their perceptions regarding their future careers.

The preceptorship model is an education-focused model for teaching and learning within a clinical environment in nursing. It formulates a professional educational relationship between a staff nurse (preceptor) and student nurse and is based on the provision of providing patient care. Preceptorship is widely acknowledged in the literature as a positive pedagogical approach in clinical nursing education in terms of knowledge and skill acquisition, confidence, and professional socialisation of undergraduate nursing students. However, the literature also widely reports negative interpersonal experiences within this professional educational relationship resulting in negative educational experiences and in some cases, negative patient experiences. Therefore, the authors set out to examine what teaching strategies are being implemented by nurse educators to encourage the development of interpersonal and communication skills in facilitating positive interpersonal relationships between the preceptor, nursing student and patient. This paper outlines the protocol for an exploratory scoping review that aims to systematically and comprehensively map out the available published and unpublished literature on the teaching strategies to develop interpersonal and communication skills in preceptorship education and training programmes. To conduct a systematic and comprehensive scoping review, the review will be guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute and Arksey & O’ Malley (2005) six-stage iterative framework, as well as PRISMA-ScR framework guidelines, to ensure the quality of the methodological and reporting approaches to the review. It is anticipated that the results of the scoping review will inform nurse educators on the current educational practices for developing interpersonal and communication skills in preceptorship education and training programmes and identify any educational practices that are worthy of further consideration for future research.

Background: Family carers are considered the backbone of care provision in the community for those who are dependent due to frailty, disability or chronic illness. As the proportion of older people increases worldwide, it is anticipated that there will be a corresponding increase in reliance on family carers. Furthermore, due to the increasing participation of women in the workforce and delayed retirement, the proportion of carers who combine paid employment with caregiving responsibilities is likely to increase. Consequently, support for family carers who balance work with care is becoming a growing health, business, economic and social issue. However, research in this field is somewhat fragmented. Aim: This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review which aims to systematically and comprehensively map out the available published and unpublished literature on family carers who combine work with caring responsibilities. Methods: The scoping review will be undertaken in six steps: (1) identify the research question; (2) identify relevant studies; (3) select studies; (4) chart the data; (5) collate, summarise and report the results and (6) consult with relevant stakeholders. The review will be guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework guidelines to ensure methodological and reporting quality. A minimum of two reviewers will independently review articles for inclusion within the review. The review process will be iterative and the research question(s) and search strategy will be refined as the review progresses. Conclusion: This review will provide a mapped synthesis of the extent and nature of the available published and unpublished literature on family carers who juggle the competing demands of caregiving and paid work. Findings will be used to determine whether there is merit in carrying out a full systematic literature review and will provide direction for the next steps of a larger research project, which aims to support family carers in the workplace.

The introduction of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAIs) in healthcare is relatively common; however, their actual effectiveness and long-term impact are not so well known, especially in relation to the children’s hospital setting. It is important to plot where and why animal interventions take place but also to focus on how the human animal bond impacts on children in a children’s hospital setting. Family members, including companion animals, are important supports which help children to relax and give them a sense of familiarity to navigate the busy and stressful hospital environment. The scoping review of the literature proposed will explore the scientific evidence base for AAIs in children’s hospitals and will map results prior to undertaking a full scale research project. Arksey and O’Malley’s framework guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute will frame this review protocol. Appendices are used to ensure transparency of methods. The protocol is presented in narrative style to demonstrate flow, fluency, and appeal to wider readership.

OBJECTIVE:Despite the policy relevance of carer burden, limited research focuses on family carers' experience of carer burden among different disease groups. This study aimed to examine differences in carer burden among family carers of people with and without dementia. DESIGN:Secondary data analysis was conducted on a national cross-sectional dataset. Multivariable ordered logistic regression was used to analyze four levels of carer burden (low, mild, moderate, high). The main independent variable was dementia diagnosis, and controls included variables relating to the care recipient, family carer, and context of care. SETTING:The original survey was funded by Irish Health Service Executive and undertaken by the National Centre for the Protection of Older People in Ireland. PARTICIPANTS:The original dataset consisted of 2,311 family carers of older people in Ireland. Approximately, one-fifth of this sample had a diagnosis of dementia. MEASUREMENTS:Carer burden was measured using the standardized 22-item Zarit Burden Interview. Care-recipient dependency was measured using the Activities for Daily Living Scale. Sociodemographic details and information about the context of caring were collected using self-report scales. RESULTS:In our model, dementia diagnosis and dependency level were significantly associated with carer burden. Family carer and context of care variables including gender, marital status, education, residence, co-residence, and perceived support showed significant relationships with carer burden. Our results highlighted significant differences in carer burden distribution; in particular, family carers of people with dementia were less likely to report low or mild carer burden (-6.95 ppts and -3.64 ppts, respectively) and more likely to report moderate or high carer burden (8.46 ppts and 2.13 ppts, respectively). CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that family carers of people with dementia may experience additional challenges associated with caring. Therefore, family carers of people with dementia may require tailored social supports to maintain good health and well-being.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic public health and social protective measures imposed globally resulted in partial or full closure of key services and supports for services and supports for people with a disability, chronic illness or age-related dependency. This caused huge disruption to care provision and family carers were relied upon to assume this care at home. Many family carers, including those in employment, found themselves navigating additional care responsibilities without 'usual levels' of support from family, friends, work, school, day care services, homecare and community services. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family carers, their employment and care-giving responsibilities, through the lens of the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989). Adopting a qualitative research approach, 16 family carers (14 females, 2 males) who were in employment prior to the onset of or during the pandemic, participated in an in-depth, semi-structured telephone or online video interview between June and September 2020. Interviews lasted between 45 and 100 min, were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis of the interview data identified four main themes: colliding worlds; navigating unchartered waters alone; opportunity despite adversity and the relentless unknowing. Findings indicate that the onset of the pandemic resulted in the sudden loss of valued resources, which disrupted routines and caused care and work life domains to become intrinsically intertwined. Consistent with the main principles of the COR theory, adapting and transitioning to different ways of working and caring with depleted resources and supports, generated considerable stress for family carers and impacted their well-being. The implications for employers, healthcare providers, policy makers and other key stakeholders are considered, to enable family carers to successfully reconcile work with care and protect their well-being, as the pandemic continues to unfold and in the event of future societal crises.

Objective:This study aimed to review and synthesize findings of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions aimed at improving outcomes for family carers of people with dementia. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We systematically searched the following databases: Cochrane, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycInfo, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA). RevMan 5 software was used to conduct meta-analysis and subgroup analysis using a random-effects model. Results: The search yielded 22 high-quality intervention articles that were suitable for further meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that psychosocial interventions have a small to moderate significant effect on carer burden (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.34, confidence interval [CI] = [−0.59, −0.09]), depression (SMD = −0.36, CI = [−0.60, −0.13]), and general health (SMD = 0.34, CI = [0.18, 0.51]). Discussion: Psychosocial interventions had a positive impact on carer outcomes; however, these results should be interpreted with caution, given the significant level of heterogeneity in study designs. Future research could examine contextual and implementation mechanisms underlying psychosocial interventions to develop effective support systems for family carers of people with dementia.

This is an open letter to acknowledge the essential and increasingly challenging role unpaid family carers are playing in the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter is written by members of the CAREWELL team, a HRB-funded project that aims to promote health and self-care behaviours among working family carers. Family carers provide care to family and friends in the community who need support due to old-age, disability and chronic illness. In many cases, family carers are supporting those who are considered most at risk in this pandemic meaning carers must reduce their own risk of infection in order to protect their dependent family members. The temporary reduction of some home care services, as well as school and creche closures, means that family carers are providing increased levels of care with little or no support. At a time when both worlds of work and care have been dramatically transformed, we wish to shed light on those who are currently balancing paid employment with a family caregiving role. We argue that there is much to be learned from the recent work restrictions that could benefit employees, including working family carers, beyond this pandemic. We also wish to build on the potential positives of a transformed society and encourage policy makers and employers to focus on what is currently being implemented, and to identify which measures could be used to create a bedrock of policies and practices that would offer robust and effective support to family carers. It is hoped that family carers will receive greater recognition for the significant role they play in society, providing essential care and alleviating the strain on health and social care systems, both during and post the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an open letter to acknowledge the essential and increasingly challenging role unpaid family carers are playing in the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter is written by members of the CAREWELL team, a HRB-funded project that aims to promote health and self-care behaviours among working family carers. Family carers provide care to family and friends in the community who need support due to old-age, disability and chronic illness. In many cases, family carers are supporting those who are considered most at risk in this pandemic meaning carers must reduce their own risk of infection in order to protect their dependent family members. The temporary reduction of some home care services, as well as school and creche closures, means that family carers are providing increased levels of care with little or no support. At a time when both worlds of work and care have been dramatically transformed, we wish to shed light on those who are currently balancing paid employment with a family caregiving role. We argue that there is much to be learned from the recent work restrictions that could benefit employees, including working family carers, beyond this pandemic. We also wish to build on the potential positives of a transformed society and encourage policy makers and employers to focus on what is currently being implemented, and to identify which measures could be used to create a bedrock of policies and practices that would offer robust and effective support to family carers. It is hoped that family carers will receive greater recognition for the significant role they play in society, providing essential care and alleviating the strain on health and social care systems, both during and post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Family carers are considered the backbone of care provision in the community for those who are dependent due to frailty, disability or chronic illness. As the proportion of older people increases worldwide, it is anticipated that there will be a corresponding increase in reliance on family carers. Furthermore, due to the increasing participation of women in the workforce and delayed retirement, the proportion of carers who combine paid employment with caregiving responsibilities is likely to increase. Consequently, support for family carers who balance work with care is becoming a growing health, business, economic and social issue. However, research in this field is somewhat fragmented. Aim: This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review which aims to systematically and comprehensively map out the available published and unpublished literature on family carers who combine work with caring responsibilities. Methods: The scoping review will be undertaken in six steps: (1) identify the research question; (2) identify relevant studies; (3) select studies; (4) chart the data; (5) collate, summarise and report the results and (6) consult with relevant stakeholders. The review will be guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework guidelines to ensure methodological and reporting quality. A minimum of two reviewers will independently review articles for inclusion within the review. The review process will be iterative and the research question(s) and search strategy will be refined as the review progresses. Conclusion: This review will provide a mapped synthesis of the extent and nature of the available published and unpublished literature on family carers who juggle the competing demands of caregiving and paid work. Findings will be used to determine whether there is merit in carrying out a full systematic literature review and will provide direction for the next steps of a larger research project, which aims to support family carers in the workplace.

Objective The objective of this review is to critically examine, evaluate, and synthesize the literature on resilience in family caregiving for people with dementia. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines to identify articles which examined resilience and related concepts in family caregiving for people with dementia. The review was based on a systematic search of scholarly databases, to yield peer‐reviewed articles and grey literature, published between 2006 and 2016. Two independent reviewers prescreened the search results and conducted formal assessments and quality appraisals of the retrieved articles. Results A total of 13 863 articles were identified by the systematic search, and 52 articles were included in the review. Based on a critical narrative synthesis of the literature, the study proposes a model of resilience for family carers of people with dementia, which incorporates the context of caring, social and cultural characteristics, and psychological dimensions of caring. Conclusions The results indicate that there is no single approach to enhancing resilience among family carers of people with dementia. Resilience is a multifaceted response to the caregiving role, and is influenced by a multitude of interrelated factors. However, the factors and resources outlined have been addressed, with limited success in some cases, by psychosocial interventions in the field. While the work conducted to date to develop resilience‐enhancing interventions has been marked with some success, the next wave of carer research could usefully examine ecological perspectives on carer outcomes, including carer resilience.