[Needs and support networks of informal caregivers of people with Parkinson's disease: a literature review].
OBJECTIVE
To develop knowledge about the needs of informal caregivers of people with Parkinson's disease and analyze the evidence of social support interventions to meet these needs.


BACKGROUND
Parkinson's disease is a highly prevalent disease that causes a range of physical-psycho-social-emotional needs in the patient and his/her informal caregiver. Although quality of life and wellbeing of informal caregivers affect the care they provide patients with, their needs are not clearly represented in the literature.


METHODS
A non systematic literature review of the evidence available in databases: PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, BIREME and CUIDEN, published in the period 2001-2011. In addition, a manual search by reviewing the table of contents of the last 5 years in relevant journals related to the topic of this work and the snowballing technique have taken place.


RESULTS
Informal caregivers have lots of needs that are not covered by the social support they receive. Caregivers' most demanded types of support are respite care, financial and socioemotional support, and coordination of continued multidisciplinary care. Precisely, these are rarely offered by professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this review evidence that health professionals must provide social support to ensure holistic and personalized care to patients, and also to ensure caregivers' health as needed.
Universidad de Navarra.
Gincy
G
Eluvathingol Jose
Mari Carmen
MC
Portillo
D017028:Caregivers; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D012944:Social Support