Abstract:

Objective To synthesize the stressors and coping strategies of dyadic illness management in patients with chronic heart failure and their caregivers. Methods Eight databases were comprehensively searched from their inception to July 2026 for the qualitative studies on dyadic illness management experience of patients with chronic heart failure and their caregivers. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program Qualitative Studies Checklist（2024 version） was adopted for methodological quality assessment，and the integrative pooled synthesis method was applied for data synthesis. Results A total of 18 articles were included and 28 complete findings were grouped into 9 categories according to their similarities. These 9 categories were further grouped into 4 synthesized findings：internal stressors—incongruence in dyadic interaction；external stressors—dual burden of life disruption and negative emotions；internal coping strategies—collaborative coping and relationship adjustment；and external coping strategies—acquisition and sharing of diverse resources. Conclusion The stressors and coping strategies for dyadic illness management among patients with chronic heart failure and their caregivers present obvious internal and external dual attributes. Nurses should promptly identify the unique stressors faced by the dyads and provide targeted coping strategy guidance to enhance the dyads’ disease management capabilities and health outcomes.

Key words: Heart Failure, Dyadic Coping, Disease Management, Qualitative Research, Meta-synthesis