Introduction: Family caregivers play a critical role in supporting patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Understanding the educational needs of these caregivers across various dimensions can significantly contribute to the development of effective empowerment programs. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the educational needs of family caregivers of patients with MS.
Methods and Materials: A Systematic Review search was conducted in databases including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and SID (Scientific Information Database of Iran) using keywords such as "Multiple Sclerosis OR MS," "Family Caregivers OR Informal Caregivers," and "Educational Needs OR Training Needs," along with their Persian equivalents, during 2014 to 2024. Qualitative and quantitative studies and implementation of educational interventions aimed at meeting the educational needs of caregivers of patients with MS were considered. Among the 90 articles initially identified, 40 duplicates and 25 irrelevant articles were excluded. Subsequently, 25 articles were screened for eligibility, and after abstract and full-text review using the PRISMA checklist version 2024, 14 articles were excluded, finally, 11 articles identified for final qualitative analysis caregivers’ educational needs.
Results: The findings revealed that the educational needs of family caregivers of MS patients can be categorized into four main domains: (1) knowledge about MS, (2) caregiving skills, (3) psychological and social support, and (4) practical resources and guidance. These domains encompassed 13 subcategories, including disease symptoms, disease progression, complications, symptom management, nutrition and diet, physiotherapy, medication management, stress management, improving communication with the patient, accessing social support networks, availability of healthcare services, awareness of caregivers’ rights, and receiving practical consultations.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the diversity and breadth of educational needs of family caregivers of patients with MS. These findings emphasize the need to design comprehensive and multifaceted educational programs for family caregivers.