Objectives This qualitative systematic review aimed to describe the experiences and perspectives of loneliness and social isolation among informal caregivers of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods Terms for caregivers, qualitative research, loneliness and social isolation and CKD were entered into MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO and searched from inception to May 2025.
Qualitative studies that described social isolation and loneliness among caregivers of people with CKD were included in this review. Study characteristics were extracted into Microsoft Excel.
Qualitative data from each study were imported into HyperRESEARCH and analysed using thematic synthesis. Results We included 19 articles involving 598 caregivers of people with CKD from 28 countries.
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 24 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Caregiver experiences of social isolation and loneliness in chronic kidney disease: systematic review of qualitative studies.
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