Abstract: Objective: To systematically synthesize the caring experience of family caregivers of children with asthma to understand the inner needs of caregivers. Methods: We searched Chinese and English databases to collect qualitative studies on the experience of family caregivers of asthmatic children from the inception of databases to June 2022. The literature quality was appraised by the JBI critical appraisal tool for qualitative research (2020 edition). Findings of included studies were synthesized using Meta-aggregation. Results: A total of 21 Chinese and English papers were included. We extracted 88 research findings which were collated into 11 themes and further classified into 3 categories: family relations and work life change due to multiple stressors from caring children with asthma; multiple challenges in asthma management; accepting and responding proactively. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals should pay high attention to the physical and mental health of caregivers of children with asthma, explore the challenges encountered in their caring process, and constantly seek optimal solutions. In addition, healthcare professionals should offer emotional and social support to promote the positive experience of caregivers and ultimately improve the overall quality of life.

Key words: asthma; caregiver; caring experience; qualitative research; Meta-synthesis