Search Results (1,870)

Background: Treatment Burden (TB) refers to the workload imposed on patients by healthcare-related tasks involved in the management of chronic conditions. Despite increasing evidence on this phenomenon, strategies for its reduction in older adults with multimorbidity remain poorly explored. Aim: To map the factors associated with treatment burden reported for older patients with multimorbidity and to derive implications for potential reduction strategies, regardless of the care setting. Methods: A scoping review was conducted applying the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL; no restrictions on publication year or language were applied. All study designs were eligible if they reported factors associated with TB from which reduction strategies could be derived, in patients aged ≥65 years, or with a mean age ≥ 65 years, with multimorbidity or associated geriatric conditions. Results: Six studies met the eligibility criteria, all of which were observational in design, conducted between 2021 and 2025. Eleven potential strategies for TB reduction, inferred from observational findings, were identified and grouped into three areas: healthcare system and access to care, therapeutic regimen, and patient and psychosocial context. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this review provides the first structured mapping of potential TB reduction strategies specifically in the older population with multimorbidity. The identified strategies, derived by the authors rather than empirically tested, may exclusively inform the design of future interventional studies and offer healthcare professionals preliminary guidance for TB management in this population. Full article

Background: Maintenance hemodialysis is characterized by repetitive changes in fluid distribution, blood pressure, and organ perfusion. Conventional clinical examination, empirical dry-weight adjustment, and biomarkers do not fully resolve the compartment-specific nature of congestion in this population. This narrative review reframes ultrasound-based volume assessment as a multimodal diagnostic problem involving pulmonary congestion, intravascular filling, systemic venous congestion, cardiac reserve, tissue response, and perfusion vulnerability. Methods: We synthesized clinically relevant evidence indexed in PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2016 and April 2026, prioritizing dialysis-specific randomized trials, prospective cohorts, systematic reviews, consensus statements, and methodological studies related to diagnostic ultrasound, Doppler-based congestion assessment, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, elastography, artificial intelligence, point-of-care ultrasound, and remote ultrasound monitoring. Results: Lung ultrasound currently has the strongest dialysis-specific evidence for detecting and tracking pulmonary congestion. Inferior vena cava ultrasound provides adjunctive information on intravascular filling and right-sided pressure but is not a surrogate for total body water. Echocardiographic parameters help characterize filling pressure and cardiac tolerance to fluid removal, whereas venous Doppler and the Venous Excess Ultrasound Score provide an emerging approach to systemic venous congestion. Elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound remain investigational tools for tissue characterization and perfusion vulnerability, while AI-assisted analysis, handheld point-of-care ultrasound, and tele-ultrasound may improve standardization, automated B-line quantification, and scalability. Conclusions: Different ultrasound modalities answer different diagnostic questions in maintenance hemodialysis. A compartment-specific framework integrating congestion, perfusion, and cardiac-reserve domains may better support individualized ultrafiltration planning, hemodynamic risk assessment, and future outcome-oriented research. Full article

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, provides an evidence-based framework to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding through implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Despite its global adoption, implementation and scale-up of BFHI remain inconsistent across healthcare systems. In Saskatchewan, Canada, only one healthcare facility currently holds BFHI designation, highlighting the need to understand the health system factors influencing implementation. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation and scale-up of BFHI within Saskatchewan healthcare settings. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological model as a guiding theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 mothers and healthcare professionals with breastfeeding-related experiences in Saskatchewan, including 11 mothers (42.3%), 6 mothers who were also healthcare professionals (23.1%), and 9 healthcare professionals without maternal experience (34.6%). Participants were recruited using purposive and maximum variation sampling. Guided by a socioecological framework, interview data were manually analyzed using an iterative thematic analysis approach. Themes were interpreted across individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and health system levels. Results: Five interrelated themes characterized BFHI implementation and scale-up in Saskatchewan, including (1) leadership and governance as foundations for BFHI implementation; (2) workforce capacity, competency, and practice consistency as determinants of care delivery; (3) continuity of breastfeeding support across care settings; (4) breastfeeding as a psychosocially embedded maternal experience; and (5) structural and societal factors shaping BFHI scale-up. While supportive leadership, provincial breastfeeding guidelines, skilled healthcare providers, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-based services facilitated BFHI-aligned care, implementation was challenged by workforce shortages, inconsistent clinical practices, limited access to specialized breastfeeding support, early postpartum discharge, geographic inequities, fragmented care pathways, and inadequate system-level monitoring. Conclusions: In Saskatchewan, BFHI implementation and scale-up are shaped by interconnected organizational, workforce, maternal, and structural factors. The findings provide context-specific qualitative evidence to inform future BFHI planning and implementation. Further research is needed to assess the feasibility, sustainability, and effectiveness of strategies to support BFHI scale-up across diverse healthcare and geographic settings. Full article

Background: Malnutrition is prevalent among older adults (OAs), ≥65 years, receiving home care services. Despite recommendations for early detection and multifactorial interventions, a gap remains between routine practice and evidence. We therefore developed a complex intervention for early detection of malnutrition risk in a Danish home care setting, comprising an implementation strategy with staff learning activities and a screening procedure with a start-up conversation and follow-up screenings. This article outlines the feasibility test and process evaluation of the intervention. Methods: Guided by the Medical Research Council (MRC/NIHR) framework for complex interventions and MRC process evaluation guidance, the evaluation was conducted in two parts. Part 1 focused on case-level feasibility, while Part 2 examined implementation feasibility within routine home care practice. Qualitative data were collected through participant observations, informal interviews, semi-structured individual interviews, focus group interviews, and a participatory workshop. Quantitative data were extracted from the electronic patient record (NEXUS, Systematic A/S, Aarhus, Denmark). Qualitative data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, and quantitative data using descriptive statistics. Results: All eligible OAs (12/12) received a start-up conversation in Part 1 compared with 5/16 (31%) in Part 2, while follow-up screenings declined from 61/71 (86%) to 37/50 (74%). Overall, staff perceived the learning activities as useful and were able to deliver the screening procedure. However, delivery and implementation were influenced by time constraints, leadership support, workplace culture, and organisational infrastructures. OAs showed willingness to participate, yet their prerequisites for engagement were more limited than anticipated. Conclusion: The intervention could be delivered in a real-world home care setting, but delivery, implementation, and activation of proposed mechanisms were constrained by resource limitations, competing priorities, workplace culture, and organisational infrastructures. To improve uptake, intervention adaptations and a stepwise implementation approach are recommended. Full article

Background: Postoperative admission to critical care facilities is frequently employed following complex abdominal and gynecologic oncology surgery; however, the clinical value of routine short-stay (≤24 h) high-acuity care remains uncertain as the existing evidence is limited, heterogeneous and derived primarily from non-randomized studies. Consequently, the present critical narrative review aims to discuss the rationale for planned short-duration postoperative high-acuity care, summarize the contemporary evidence, and identify priorities for future research. Methods: Relevant studies evaluating planned postoperative admission to critical care facilities for ≤24 h following major abdominal surgery were identified through a targeted review of contemporary literature using a structured search of MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and ClinicalTrials.gov. Evidence from observational studies investigating intensive care units, high-dependency units, post-anesthesia care units, and advanced recovery pathways was critically synthesized, with particular attention to clinical outcomes, healthcare utilization, and current knowledge gaps. Results: Nine primary studies were included, predominantly observational in design, with the majority lacking a comparative study design, thereby limiting direct evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of planned short-stay postoperative high-acuity care. None of the studies were designed to evaluate a gynecologic oncology population, limiting the direct applicability of the available evidence to this setting. As such, the current evidence is better suited to critical clinical interpretation of the rationale, patient selection, and potential role of postoperative high-acuity care than to drawing definitive conclusions regarding intervention effectiveness. Overall, the available data suggest that planned short-stay high-acuity postoperative care is not consistently associated with reductions in postoperative mortality or overall morbidity but may decrease unplanned intensive care unit admissions in selected patient populations. Most studies reported little or no effect on overall hospital length of stay, whereas increased healthcare costs were primarily observed in capacity-driven or unplanned postoperative critical care pathways. Interpretation of the available literature remains limited by the predominance of observational studies, heterogeneous patient populations, variability in critical care models, and inconsistent outcome reporting. Conclusions: Current evidence does not support routine postoperative admission to critical care facilities following major abdominal surgery, while evidence specifically addressing gynecologic oncology remains insufficient to establish specialty-specific effectiveness. However, planned, time-limited high-acuity postoperative care was not associated with an observed increase in adverse clinical outcomes in the available observational studies and may offer clinical and system-level benefits in selected high-risk patients; these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the limitations of the available evidence. Prospective studies with standardized outcome reporting and clearly defined populations are needed to inform evidence-based perioperative care strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children now spend a substantial part of daily life in digital environments, and their digital, media, and information literacies shape their online safety, social-emotional development, and mental health, making these competencies a concern for child public health and preventive paediatric care. This study applies a Synthetic Knowledge Synthesis (SKS) to map how digital, media, and information literacies (hereafter digital literacies) among children have evolved, comparing neurotypical and neurodivergent children. SKS is a semi-automated approach that combines descriptive bibliometrics, keyword co-occurrence mapping, and qualitative content analysis to map an entire research field or topic. Methods: We treat digital literacies as relevant to children’s health, well-being, and safe online participation, and we analyse Scopus-indexed literature from 1996 to 2025 using descriptive bibliometrics, keyword co-occurrence mapping, and qualitative content analysis. Results: The mapping shows strong growth in general digital-literacy scholarship alongside a small but persistent body of work on a “double digital divide” affecting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and dyslexia. The two bodies of work differ in emphasis: the general literature foregrounds social integration and critical agency, while research on neurodivergent children foregrounds inclusive pedagogy, implicit learning, and multimodal expression. It also shifts from general digital-safety awareness toward protective mediations for vulnerabilities such as social-emotional decoding differences and impulsivity, which bear on children’s online safety and mental health. Because bibliometric mapping reveals where research is concentrated rather than what works in practice, the synthesis points to evidence gaps rather than proven methods. Conclusions: On this basis, we argue for an integrated public-health and socio-educational framework that complements universal literacy standards with adaptive, assistive safety nets, so that all children can take part in digital life safely and on equal terms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lifestyle interventions may alleviate treatment-related toxicity and improve patient-centered outcomes during radiotherapy (RT). This scoping review mapped randomized evidence on lifestyle interventions delivered during RT, summarized reported outcomes, and identified evidence gaps. Methods: PubMed and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from April 2016 to April 2026. Eligible studies included adults who received exercise, nutritional, psychological, combined, or multimodal lifestyle interventions during their RT treatment. Study characteristics, intervention details, and outcomes were charted and narratively synthesized. Results: Twenty-three RCTs were included. Exercise interventions were evaluated in 12 studies, nutrition in five, psychological in one, combined exercise-and-nutrition in two, combined nutrition-and-psychological in two, and multimodal interventions comprising all three components in one study. Breast, head and neck, and prostate cancers were most frequently represented. QoL, fatigue, and functional capacity were the most commonly assessed outcomes. Exercise interventions were most consistently associated with improvements in fatigue and functional capacity, whereas effects on QoL were less consistent. Nutritional interventions showed favorable findings for nutritional status and treatment-related toxicity. Psychological, combined, and multimodal interventions showed favorable findings for selected QoL, fatigue, nutritional, and psychological outcomes. Key evidence gaps included heterogeneous intervention protocols and outcomes assessment, limited evidence for non-exercise interventions and underrepresentation of several cancer populations. Conclusions: Lifestyle interventions delivered during RT may improve selected patient-centered and treatment-related toxicity outcomes. Exercise comprised the largest body of evidence, whereas other intervention types were less frequently evaluated. Heterogeneity across studies limits conclusions regarding optimal approaches. Further RT-specific studies using standardized intervention programs and comparable outcome measures are required to inform supportive-care delivery. Full article

Background/Objectives: Healthcare workforce shortages and the challenges facing healthcare professionals are among the most pressing issues confronting contemporary health systems. This study examines the social representations of public, private, and public–private partnership (PPP) healthcare organisational models and professional practice elicited from public-sector physicians and nurses in Portugal. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2022 and May 2023 using a non-probability sample of 308 physicians and nurses classified as public-sector professionals. Participants completed a free-association task concerning the public, private, and PPP healthcare models and their professional practice. The evoked terms were examined using prototypical analysis within the structural approach to Social Representations Theory. The representation of the public healthcare sector included elements such as accessibility, universality, equity, slowness, disorganisation, and resource limitations. The private healthcare sector was characterised by elements including cost, profit, speed, organisation, inaccessibility, and service quality. Results: The representation of PPPs included better management, efficiency, profit, interests, and quality, alongside a relatively frequent “No opinion” response. Professional practice was characterised by elements including caring, dedication, empathy, resilience, exhaustion, perceived undervaluation, and remuneration. Conclusions: These findings describe the social representations elicited from the present sample of public-sector physicians and nurses and should not be interpreted as evidence of objective differences between healthcare organisational models or as direct measures of motivation, resilience, burnout, sector preference, or working conditions. The findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating and may inform future comparative research involving professionals working across different healthcare settings, as well as studies using dedicated measures of professional and occupational outcomes. Full article

Respiratory metabolism reflects energy demand and physiological variation in bivalves, but interpretation of among-population differences requires careful consideration of developmental stage, diet, breeding background, and previous rearing history. In this study, oxygen consumption rate (OR), ammonia excretion rate (NR), O:N ratio, and key metabolic enzyme activities were compared among three Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) populations: Laizhou wild-origin stock (LZ), Fujian-origin stock cultured in Liaoning (FJ), and Zebra shell-color selected line (ZS). These populations were selected to represent three common germplasm categories used in Manila clam production: a wild-origin stock, a translocated aquaculture stock, and a Zebra shell-color selected line. Clams with nominal shell lengths of 10, 15, and 20 mm were used for respiratory measurements, and enzyme activities were determined in 15 mm individuals. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of population on OR, NR, and O:N ratio (p < 0.05), whereas shell length significantly affected NR and O:N ratio (p < 0.05). OR decreased with increasing shell length in LZ and FJ, while ZS showed a different pattern. NR generally declined with shell length across all populations. The O:N ratio increased markedly in LZ but remained relatively low in FJ and ZS. Among enzyme activities, SDH was significantly higher in LZ (p < 0.01), whereas AKP activity was highest in ZS (p < 0.05). LDH activity did not differ significantly among populations. These results demonstrate that Manila clam populations with different source backgrounds exhibit distinct physiological profiles under standardized laboratory conditions. The observed variation represents population-associated physiological characteristics rather than direct evidence of genetic differentiation, providing baseline information for future germplasm characterization integrating physiological, genetic, and environmental approaches. Full article

Background: Current evidence on diabetes care interventions is either fragmented or focused on specific interventions targeting healthcare professionals or patients. This study aims to categorize diabetes care interventions involving physicians or nurses and their impact on health outcomes for individuals with diabetes. Additionally, it aimed to determine the proportion of favorable findings across healthcare intervention categories. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in primary care settings and guided by a health system framework. We searched articles from inception to June 2022 in databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. The classification of healthcare interventions was guided by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care taxonomy and health system framework. Results: Results were reported following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. From the initial pool of 13,406 articles, 116 met the eligibility criteria and reported interventions conducted across 119 countries or regions, of which 94 were high-level economies. Five healthcare intervention categories were identified: transforming the workforce; service content; re-designing the service delivery system; information and communication technology; and multifaceted. Patient health outcomes were classified into 3 overarching categories with 11 subcategories: clinical outcomes, behavioral outcomes, and psychosocial outcomes. The proportion of statistically significant favorable findings differed across intervention categories and outcome domains. Multifaceted interventions showed relatively higher proportions of favorable findings for clinical outcomes, whereas re-designing the service delivery system interventions showed relatively higher proportions for behavioral outcomes. ICT interventions frequently reported favorable findings related to blood glucose indicators. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare interventions and health outcomes for diabetes in primary care settings. It emphasizes the importance of tailored interventions, delivery methods, and technology integration for effective diabetes management, advocating for a comprehensive approach from individual to societal levels. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize training coverage across different knowledge and skill domains among clinical pharmacists in China and identify variations across domains, providing nationwide evidence to inform training curriculum optimization and future development of clinical pharmacist training programs. Methods: A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted using a multistage sampling method to collect data on demographic characteristics, training experiences, and self-reported training coverage across 13 knowledge and skill domains among clinical pharmacists. Descriptive statistics summarized the sample characteristics, and subgroup analyses compared differences in training coverage among clinical pharmacists with different demographic characteristics and training experiences. Results: A total of 704 valid questionnaires were included in the statistical analysis. Overall, pharmacists reported high training coverage in clinical pharmacy (97.30%), prescription review (94.60%) and pharmaceutical care (94.18%), whereas training coverage in molecular biology and genomics (53.27%) remained relatively limited. Subgroup analyses indicated significant differences in training coverage across multiple knowledge and skill domains by training level (national vs. provincial, p < 0.05), training type (general vs. specialized, p < 0.05), and certification status (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study provided the first nationwide characterization of self-reported training coverage among clinical pharmacists in secondary and tertiary hospitals in China across different knowledge and skill domains. The findings provide baseline evidence on the distribution and characteristics of clinical pharmacist training coverage, identify knowledge and skill domains with relatively lower training coverage such as molecular biology and genomics, and inform future optimization of training curricula and training pathways. Full article

Background/Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes substantial morbidity and mortality in older adults, and in Mexico’s rapidly growing older-adult population it may place increasing pressure on hospital-based care; however, Mexico-specific evidence to inform adult RSV immunization policy remains limited. This study estimated the long-term clinical and economic burden of medically attended RSV among adults aged 60–99 years in Mexico and evaluated the health impact and cost-effectiveness of a year-round RSVpreF vaccination program. Methods: A population-based Markov cohort model compared the RSVpreF vaccination with no vaccination in a hypothetical Mexican cohort aged 60–99 years over a lifetime horizon. Outcomes included RSV-related hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) and physician office (PO) encounters, in-hospital deaths, life-years (LYs), and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Analyses were conducted from Mexican healthcare system and societal perspectives in 2025 Mexican pesos (MXN$) and US dollars (US$), with costs and outcomes discounted at 5% annually. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses and scenario analyses assessed the robustness of the findings. Results: With 58% uptake, RSVpreF reduced hospitalizations by 187,825, ED encounters by 178,278, PO encounters by 465,976, and RSV-related deaths by 15,384. In the first 5 years, hospitalizations, ED encounters, and deaths declined by 31% each, and PO encounters by 14%. Over the lifetime horizon, vaccination generated an additional 96,227 discounted LYs and 71,526 discounted QALYs, while avoiding MXN$ 19,484 million (US$ 1061 million) in direct medical costs and MXN$ 3324 million (US$ 181 million) in indirect costs. Conclusions: Year-round RSVpreF vaccination in Mexico among adults aged 60–99 years could substantially reduce medically attended RSV cases and RSV-related mortality and is projected to be cost-effective, thereby supporting the adoption of preventive strategies to address the growing clinical and economic burden of RSV in Mexico’s aging population. Full article

Thalassemia represents the world’s most prevalent inherited hemoglobin disorder, affecting approximately 4.4 per 10,000 live births globally. Accurate genetic characterization is indispensable both for definitive diagnosis and for lifetime clinical monitoring. The past two decades have witnessed a paradigm shift from conventional protein-based assays toward comprehensive molecular techniques, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and third-generation (long-read) sequencing, which in turn have enabled reproductive applications such as preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disease (PGT-M) to identify unaffected embryos before implantation. (1) To systematically evaluate the molecular techniques available for confirming the diagnosis of alpha- and beta-thalassemia, including their diagnostic accuracy, indications, and limitations; (2) to examine how genotype–phenotype correlation and genetic modifier profiling inform clinical prognosis and therapeutic decision-making; and (3) to define evidence-based genetic monitoring parameters for longitudinal follow-up of patients receiving transfusions, iron chelation, and novel curative therapies including gene therapy. A comprehensive narrative review was conducted by systematically searching PubMed/MEDLINE for English-language peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and December 2024. Forty-three studies were ultimately included after applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality of included studies was assessed using SANRA (Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles). HPLC and capillary electrophoresis remain first-line phenotyping tools; DNA-based confirmation is mandatory for complete genotyping. Among known, previously characterized mutations, NGS-based targeted panels achieve > 95% detection sensitivity, but they require MLPA co-testing or long-read sequencing to detect structural variants such as large deletions. Genotype–phenotype prediction is substantially improved, though not rendered fully deterministic, by profiling three major modifier loci: XmnI (Gγ), BCL11A, and HBS1L-MYB. PGT-M using NGS achieves near-complete genotyping accuracy (>99%) with live birth rates of 40–60% per frozen embryo transfer cycle. For patients receiving curative gene therapy (exagamglogene autotemcel/Casgevy), molecular follow-up protocols spanning 15 years are now recommended. Cardiac T2* MRI remains the most reliable non-invasive tool for iron overload follow-up, superior to serum ferritin alone. A tiered, genotype-informed approach—combining HPLC/CE phenotyping, targeted molecular diagnostics, genetic modifier profiling, and periodic re-evaluation—optimizes diagnostic precision and guides individualized management across the thalassemia spectrum. Integration of PGT-M and long-read sequencing into standard care pathways, alongside robust gene therapy follow-up protocols, will define the next era of thalassemia genetics. Full article

Nonadherence to medications for psychosis is a major challenge in the management of schizophrenia and is associated with an increased risk of relapse, hospitalization, functional deterioration, and premature death. Although long-acting injectable (LAI) medications for psychosis improve treatment continuity, important differences exist among LAIs regarding initiation regimen, attainment of therapeutic blood level exposure, and steady state, dosing, and switching. Risperidone ISM^® is an intramuscular LAI administered every four weeks, designed to provide rapid and sustained therapeutic exposure without the need for loading doses or oral supplementation. This narrative review translates the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of risperidone ISM^® into expert-informed guidance for treatment initiation, dose optimization, switching, and ongoing schizophrenia management. Risperidone ISM^® achieves therapeutic exposure within hours of administration and maintains plasma concentrations and dopamine D2 receptor occupancy at levels associated with antipsychotic efficacy throughout the dosing interval, supporting continuous antipsychotic coverage and stability. Its PK profile, as characterized in clinical studies, and simplified initiation regimen may facilitate clinical decision-making across treatment settings, including transitions from oral risperidone or other medications for psychosis and continuity of care following hospitalization or relapse, while supporting symptom stability, functioning, and patient engagement. By translating PK/PD characteristics into practical clinical implications, this review aims to support clinicians in optimizing the use of risperidone ISM^® as part of individualized, recovery-oriented care in the short- and long-term management of people living with schizophrenia across settings. The recommendations presented reflect expert interpretation of the available PK/PD, clinical trial, observational, and product-label evidence, supplemented by clinical experience. Full article

Background: Family caregivers play a central role in supporting people with colorectal cancer (CRC) and often manage complex physical, emotional, and practical demands. However, evidence regarding their experiences and supportive care needs in Kazakhstan remains limited. This qualitative study explored caregiving experiences, caregiving burden, caregivers’ needs, and coping strategies. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used, involving semi-structured interviews with 21 family caregivers caring for patients with CRC. Participants were recruited purposively from the Medical Center of West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University and outpatient clinics in Aktobe between December 2025 and March 2026. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Most family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer were women (95.2%). Five main themes developed: emotional challenges, transformation of daily life, caregiving tasks, caregivers’ needs and support gaps, and coping strategies and resilience. Diagnosis was described as a distressing experience characterized by shock, fear, and uncertainty. Caregiving substantially disrupted employment, financial stability, and family roles, often requiring work adjustment or leaving the workforce. Caregivers reported insufficient preparation for stoma care and expressed a strong need for structured training. Social isolation was common, as both caregivers and patients experienced a shrinking of their social support networks. Despite substantial burden, caregivers described adaptive responses to ongoing emotional and practical demands, and resilience was a prominent theme. Conclusions: Family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer in Kazakhstan face interconnected emotional, informational, physical, and system-level challenges, while also drawing on resilience. The findings highlight priorities for support, including structured stoma care education, psychological services, recognition of caregivers’ roles, and improved discharge and transitional care. Full article