King's College London

Informal caregivers are people who care for family members or friends with health issues without being paid. Being an informal caregiver can cause physical exhaustion, emotional stress, and financial struggles. Digital peer support programmes, where caregivers can connect with others in similar situations, offer hope for making this experience easier. Unfortunately, many caregivers do not use these programmes.

This review will look at what caregivers think about digital support programmes to answer three questions:

1. What do caregivers say about their experiences with digital peer support?
2. What parts of these programmes do caregivers find most helpful?
3. What makes it easier or harder for caregivers to take part in these programmes?

The review will analyse research studies that focus on caregivers’ views, looking for common themes and new insights. The findings will help create a framework to explain how and why caregivers use digital support, which can guide improvements to these programmes, updates to policies, and better support for caregivers. By enhancing digital peer support, the goal is to make life better for caregivers and those they care for, while also helping society by keeping care-giving costs down.