RURAL CAREGIVING AFTER STROKE - Global Qualitative Evidence Synthesis - Summary

Sep 29, 2026

Rural caregivers of stroke survivors face geographic isolation, limited access to medical providers, and reduced support, which increases caregiver burden. This global qualitative evidence synthesis consolidates domestic and international narrative experiences through a systematic search using PRISMA 2020 and established qualitative review guidelines across PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO. Thirteen studies involving 161 caregivers were analyzed using descriptive statistics, stratification, thematic content analysis, and open coding. Community and emotional support eased burden, but factors like disability severity, rapid role transitions, delayed service initiation, poor provider communication, and mistrust worsened it, informing future interventions to improve stroke survivors’ quality of life.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Evidence synthesis approach

Search strategy and inclusion criteria

Data extraction and analysis methods

Key findings and implications

Factors that reduce burden

Factors that increase burden

Future intervention directions

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 817 (narrative themes) . A total of 13 studies representing 161 caregivers, between the ages of 21-85 years old, were eligible for inclusion in this evidence synthesis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data items; stratification was applied to organize data into meaningful subgroups. Thematic content analysis and open coding were used to identify patterns and themes. Rural caregivers’ burden was alleviated by community and emotional support from their social networks and care providers but exacerbated by stroke survivor disability severity, unanticipated and rapid role transitions, delays in service initiation, inadequate communication from providers and mistrust in their local health system. Future interventions informed by these data may improve stroke survivors’ quality of life by reducing caregiver burden. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2770 RURAL CAREGIVING AFTER STROKE: A GLOBAL QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Adrianne Smiley1, Rita Jablonski2, David Vance2, and Elizabeth Byrd3, 1. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 2. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 3. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States Caregivers of stroke survivors in rural communities face geographic isolation with limited access to medical providers, which limits caregiver support and increases caregiver burden. A consolidated synthesis of the domestic and international narrative experiences of rural stroke survivor caregivers would inform interventions. We conducted a systematic search using the PRISMA 2020 framework and guidelines proposed by Bettany-Saltikov and McSherry (2016), focusing on qualitative studies published in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO biomedical research databases with no restrictions on location nor publication year. Two independent reviewers assessed studies for original research exploring narrative themes on caregiver burden among rural caregivers, 18 years and older, caring for stroke survivors. Eligible studies followed our indexed search strategy developed in collaboration with a health sciences librarian. Extracted data items included study identifiers, characteristics and main findings

FAQs

What research question does the synthesis address?

It explores narrative themes related to caregiver burden among rural caregivers caring for stroke survivors, consolidating experiences from both domestic and international studies.

How were studies identified and selected?

A systematic search followed the PRISMA 2020 framework and qualitative review guidelines, screening qualitative studies in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO using two independent reviewers.

What factors most influence caregiver burden in rural settings?

Caregiver burden is alleviated by community and emotional support but exacerbated by stroke survivor disability severity, unanticipated rapid role transitions, delays in service initiation, inadequate provider communication, and mistrust in the local health system.

Sep 29, 2026

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