Mobile Applications and Internet-based Approaches for Supporting Non-professional Caregivers: A Systematic Review

Non-professional caregivers are an important source of physical, emotional and other support to ill or injured Veterans. With an increasing number of Veterans who require care and assistance for traumatic brain injuries (TBI), physical impairments, or other debilitating disorders such as post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and dementia, there is a greater growing demand for spouses, parents or other family members and friends to assume the role of caregiver. Electronic health applications and tools are increasingly available and have the potential to facilitate caregiving outside of traditional healthcare settings, especially in the context of the rising use of smartphones and mobile technologies. Lessons learned from prior consumer health information technology (CHIT) interventions could help inform the development of health-related mobile applications. CHIT applications are defined as electronic tools or technologies intended for use by consumers, by patients or family members, that interact directly with users for the management of their health or healthcare, and in which data, information, or other recommendations are tailored and/or individualized; the system may or may not link to a health professional or health system services. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) is currently developing mobile applications intended for use by seriously injured post-9/11 Veterans and their family caregivers enrolled in the Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers program. This report was requested on behalf of the VA offices that are developing these mobile tools. The objectives of this report are the following: 1) to identify studies of CHIT applications that aim to support the needs of caregivers; 2) examine the usage and effects of CHIT applications on caregiver burden outcomes, and patient outcomes, clinical process measures, and healthcare utilization of interest; 3) discuss parallels that can be drawn from pediatric literature, and 4) identify gaps in the literature.