e-Health as a tool to improve the quality of life of informal caregivers dealing with stroke patients: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to elucidate the evidence related to utilizing e-Health as a tool in improving the quality of life of informal caregivers of dependent patients due to cerebrovascular accident (CVA). METHODS: This systematic review with meta-analysis includes 13 studies. For these studies, seven databases were searched between 2009 and 2019. A random-effects model was adopted for overall estimation and to explain the heterogeneity. RESULTS: A random-effects model was adopted for overall estimation and to explain heterogeneity. The results did not demonstrate statistical significance (p<0.05) and low heterogeneity (I2  = 0). CONCLUSIONS: There is a tendency toward improvement in psychological health, solving care-related problems, as well as better prevention of problems arising from the burden. Therefore, new studies with larger sample size and primarily to conduct them for more than 6 months for the accuracy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study reflects a trend toward improving psychological health, solving care-related problems, as well as improved the prevention of problems arising from the burden.

Validation of Content for an App for Caregivers of Stroke Patients through the Delphi Method.

The aim of this study was to reach a consensus among experts (using the Delphi technique) to validate the informative content that should be included in an App to be used by informal caregivers of stroke patients in order to improve their quality of life, facilitating access to the health care system and involving them in their own health. This technique was developed between June and December 2021. The group of experts was selected on the basis of previously established criteria, and the coefficient of variation (v) was used as a measure of consensus. In addition, the concordance index was calculated to determine the stability of the different rounds. In the first round, the preliminary content, previously elaborated by the research group, was evaluated as very appropriate for the objectives set (N-P < 1.07). In addition, averages of 4.5 out of five and a coefficient of variation of less than 0.5 were obtained, confirming the consensus. In the second round, suggestions were made by the experts on how to improve the content of the information, obtaining 100% agreement with the results obtained in the first round. The results obtained allow a positive evaluation of the use of the Delphi method for the elaboration of the information to be housed in an App.