The effect of tele-interventions on family caregiver burden: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Family caregiving is often associated with a significant physical and psychological burden. Tele‑interventions have increasingly been used to support family caregivers; however, existing studies report inconsistent findings. This systematic review and meta‑analysis aimed to synthesize evidence on the effect of tele‑interventions on family caregiver burden across different patient populations.

This systematic review and meta‑analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and included randomized controlled trials published from 2015 to 2025. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction. Twenty‑three studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, of which 17 were eligible for meta‑analysis. Pooled, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses were conducted utilizing Stata software, with results reported as standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals.

Most tele‑interventions were conducted among caregivers of individuals with neurological conditions, with web‑based formats and educational components being the most common intervention features. Seventeen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta‑analysis. The pooled analysis indicated that tele‑interventions were associated with a greater reduction in family caregiver burden compared with usual care; however, substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (SMD = -0.39; 95% CI: -0.76 to − 0.01; p < 0.001; I² = 94.50%). Subgroup analyses based on disorder and intervention modality and content were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity and should be interpreted as exploratory. Larger standardized mean differences were observed in studies involving caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions compared with other disease groups, and in interventions delivered via mobile applications.

This systematic review and meta‑analysis suggests that tele‑interventions may reduce family caregiver burden, although the findings are limited by substantial heterogeneity across studies. Therefore, further well‑designed randomized controlled trials with standardized outcome measures and diverse caregiver populations are needed to clarify the effectiveness of tele‑interventions and to identify the contexts in which they may be most beneficial.

Not applicable.