Palliative care in resource-poor settings
28th August 2025
Family and social support are very important for people with serious, life-limiting illnesses, especially in low- and middle-income countries. However, we don’t know enough about what patients and their caregivers actually experience in these support systems and informal networks.
An international team of researchers has published the results of a study looking at family and social support in low- and middle-income countries. The study reviewed existing research to better understand these experiences and the challenges involved. From 39 studies, five main themes were found:
Financial strain – families often struggle financially with the costs of care.
Emotional support – kindness, comfort, and encouragement act as a lifeline.
Practical help – guidance and hands-on assistance are vital.
Cultural and social duties – obligations within families and communities shape the support given.
Coping strategies – many people rely on resilience and faith as a coping mechanism to manage stress.
The findings show that palliative care should be tailored to fit cultural contexts. This would help reduce caregiver burdens, make resources more fairly available, and improve the well-being of both patients and their families.
The study shows that while family and social networks are crucial, caregivers often feel overwhelmed due to financial hardship, emotional stress, and lack of resources. Spiritual and community support help, but gaps in healthcare services worsen the burden. Addressing these issues requires culturally sensitive palliative care policies and better resource distribution.
Lead researcher at the Cicely Saunders Institute, Dr Kennedy Nkhoma said: “Evidence from this review highlights the need for family support systems and integrated palliative care services to reduce catastrophic costs to healthcare systems.”
Salifu Y, Ekpor E, Bayuo J, Akyirem S, Nkhoma K. Patients’ and caregivers’ experiences of familial and social support in resource-poor settings: A systematically constructed review and meta-synthesis. Palliat Care Soc Pract. 2025 Jun 27;19:26323524251349840. doi: 10.1177/26323524251349840. eCollection 2025. PMID: 40584974 Free PMC article. Review.