JCO global oncology
Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Time-Use, Productivity, and Labor Outcomes Among Unpaid Cancer Caregivers
By Allman G, Morrell L, Meheus F and 5 others.
Abstract
Purpose
Unpaid caregivers provide essential support for people with cancer, yet the economic burden of this labor is not well quantified. This study provides pooled estimates of caregiving time and productivity outcomes to better understand the impact of unpaid caregiving on caregivers' economic well-being.
Methods
We systematically searched PubMed and EBSCO databases in June 2025 for peer-reviewed studies reporting primary or secondary data on six prespecified caregiver outcomes related to labor and time-use. Eligible studies focused on adult cancer care and included precision measures. After screening 3,904 records and reviewing 106 full-text articles, 59 studies from 16 countries were included in the meta-analyses. Where required for comparability, outcomes were standardized to a 35-hour work week and 250 workdays per year.