family, non-professional or informal caregivers: a review of terminology in scientific publications

Introduction: The figure of the caregiver of dependent persons is today the subject of scientific research in various disciplines in the health and social sciences. However, the terminology used to refer to the caregiver is often confusing, especially when they are not health professionals. Purpose: To analyze the terminology used to refer to the figure of the unpaid caregiver without technical training in scientific publications in recent years. Methods: A two-stage analysis was conducted: (1) review of publications in national and international databases in 1996-2005 and 2006-2016, and (2) review 2006-2016 using specific Dialnet database filters. Results: Despite the more frequent use of "family caregivers" (in Spanish and English) in the publication titles, differences were observed in the use of other terms depending on the year of publication, the subject matter, type of journal or quality of the publication. Conclusion: The lack of agreement on the use of an established terminology to refer to the caregiver profile shows the need for constant revision and updating of the terms.