Gender differences in research samples of family carers of adults with cancer: a systematic review

Background: Rising global demand for informal care makes it increasingly important to have a comprehensive understanding of carers’ experiences. However, research is thought to be skewed towards women’s experience, leading some to call men ‘forgotten carers’. Methods: A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines was conducted to assess the gender balance of study samples of family carers of someone living with cancer. Findings: A total of 82 articles involving 14,352 participants were reviewed. Overall, 35.5 per cent of participants were men and 64.5 per cent were women. Conclusions: Researchers should seek to overcome barriers to men’s participation in carer research in order to ensure the experiences of male and female carers are recognised through research.