Understanding the characteristics of social support of family caregivers of persons with severe mental illness, and identifying the associated factors are the preconditions of developing evidence-based intervention strategies to improve social support for this vulnerable group. Among the limited studies concerned family caregivers of patients with severe mental illness, the majority focused on their own individual factors, leaving patient- and family-level associated factors largely under-investigated.

To explore the social support and associated factors among family caregivers of persons with severe mental illness, providing a theoretical basis for the development of evidence-based strategies to enhance the level of social support in this group.

A cross-sectional design was used. Multistage sampling was used to select three tertiary grade A mental health organizations from three cities located in eastern, central, and western China, respectively (one was extracted from each city) , then from which, family caregivers of persons with severe mental illness who received outpatient services between August 2018 and December 2019 were selected, and their family caregivers (n=1 001) were recruited as participants. A self-administered survey was conducted in the family caregivers using a questionnaire〔consisting of two parts: demographics and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) 〕compiled by our research team to collect their individual and family information and social support status, as well as patients' (the care receivers') information. Multiple linear regression was employed to identify associated factors for the total score and domain scores of SSRS.

The mean total score of SSRS for the family caregivers was (34.4±9.1) . And the mean score for its three domains, subjective social support, objective social support, and social support utilization was (20.3±6.2) , (7.5±2.8) , (6.6±2.3) , respectively. The type of occupation of the caregivers, and the type of mental diseases and stability of symptoms of patients cared by them, as well as mean household monthly income per person were associated with the total score of SSRS for the family caregivers (P<0.05) . Furthermore, marital status and religious belief of caregivers, as well as their relationship with the patients cared by them also affected the total score of SSRS of the family caregivers (P<0.05) . As for the scores of domains of SSRS, they were found to be influenced by the type of occupation of the caregivers, the type of mental diseases and stability of symptoms of patients cared by them, and mean household monthly income per person (P<0.05) . Besides that, gender, marital status, living area (rural or urban) , and religious belief of caregivers, their relationship with patients cared by them, and the amount of family subsidies also affected the score of subjective social support of family caregivers (P<0.05) ; the amount of family subsidies also affected the objective social support score of family caregivers (P<0.05) ; gender and living area (rural or urban) of caregivers, and the amount of family subsidies also affected the score of social support utilization of family caregivers (P<0.05) .

Family caregivers of patients with severe mental illness possessed a low level of social support, had limited access to social support, perceived insufficient support, and used social support rather insufficiently. There were differences in factors associated with their overall social support and domain-specific social support. More attention should be paid to family caregivers who are single, unemployed, have low household monthly income per person, care for patients with schizophrenia or unstable mental symptoms, and provide them with support in accordance with their needs, by which their care burden can be alleviated, and their physical and mental health will be improved eventually.

Care needs of Chinese cancer patients have increased significantly, due to massive population ageing and an increasing cancer incidence rate. Family caregiving, being the most important component in meeting those care needs, comes with many kinds of care burdens for caregivers. Thus, it is vital to systematically examine caregiving experiences of family caregivers for cancer patients.

To systematically synthesize the care experiences of family caregivers for Chinese cancer patients.

All qualitative studies on the caregiving experiences of family caregivers for Chinese cancer patients were systematically retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, EmBase, Medline, Cochrane Library, grey literature in the health sciences, CNKI, and Wanfang Data from inception to May 23, 2021 between January and May 2021. The 2016 JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used for quality evaluation. Meta-synthesis of the included studies was performed.

Nineteen studies (6 in Chinese and 13 in English) were finally included, involving 295 family caregivers in total. Nine were rated A with very low risk of bias, and 10 were rated B with relatively low risk of bias. Three overarching themes containing 15 subthemes emerged: patient-centered care needs, care burden and care gains.

This qualitative meta-synthesis provides a deep and comprehensive analysis of the care experiences of family caregivers of Chinese cancer patients, which may help improve the construction of medical system to meet the needs of patient-centered care, strengthen the positive factors affecting the care experience at the micro, meso and macro levels, and carry out intervention measures such as death and life education to reduce the negative impact of cultural factors on the care experience.

As the most direct caregivers, family caregivers play a crucial role in caring children with cancer. Qualitative studies on their emotions and experiences have reported that they face great challenges and pressures during caring children with cance.

To perform an integrative synthesis of caregiving experiences of family caregivers of children with cancer, providing evidence derived from practice for improving the caring for such children, and their family caregivers' physical and mental health.

Qualitative studies regarding caregiving experiences of family caregivers for children with cancer were retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, EmBase, Medline, CNKI, and Wanfang Data from inception to June 1, 2021. Literature screening, and data extraction were performed by two researchers, separately. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. And the results were synthesized using an integrative review approach.

Twelve studies were finaly enrolled. Thirty-eight complete evidence of 11 types arose from the synthesis and were summarized into two themes: (1) care challenges and burdens; (2) care resources. Each primary topic encompasses multiple sub-topics.

We found that family caregivers face a variety of burdens and challenges, and they attempt to actively solve them using their own strengths, supports from their own personal networks, other people, external sources (non-governmental, public and supportive policy resources) , culture and belief, as well as knowledge about hospice care. To relieve their care burden, and improve the quality of life of these children, it is suggested that medical workers should provide these caregivers with targeted guidance and supports with the features of the specific treatment phase of the children, and their caregivers' caregiving experiences and culture taken into consideration.