People & Contexts | Informal caregivers

Factors related to good death from the perspectives of informal caregivers of cancer patients: a systematic review

Published: Nov 2025

Authors

Hosein Mohammadi Roshan

Nursing Care Research Center, Clinical Sciences Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abbas Ebadi

Student Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Leila Karimi

Student Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Salman Barasteh

Student Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: 

Ensuring a good death in cancer patients is a multifaceted phenomenon that depends on various factors from the perspective of the patient and their informal caregivers and is based on clinical, cultural and ethical conditions. The objective of the present systematic review is to investigate factors of good death from the perspective of informal caregivers of cancer patients.

Methods:

An advanced English electronic search was conducted with no time limit in four online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest and using related keywords on April 29, 2024. The articles were evaluated based on the conventional content analysis and their quality were assessed.

Results:

A total of 686 titles were determined. After removing duplicates, screening and final selection, 33 relevant articles entered the analysis phase. The study population included informal caregivers of cancer patients. Factors of a good death were extracted in two categories. Comfort factors included physical, cognitive-psychological, and social factors, and support factors included perceived support from caregivers, access to care, and advanced care planning.

Conclusion:

Achieving a good death is a unique experience, and the perspective of informal caregivers of cancer patients is particularly valuable due to their ongoing involvement in patient care. These caregivers offer insights they have gained from supporting and continuously observing patients throughout the illness trajectory. A comprehensive approach including comfort and support factors can be effective in achieving a good death at the end of life in cancer patients. Planning should focus on comfort and support factors to achieve the patient’s end-of-life preferences and to deliver specialized end-of-life care, taking into account the unique understanding that informal caregivers develop through their sustained caregiving role.

Access

Web link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01902-3