Objective: To analyze the nursing diagnosis NANDA-I - Caregiver Role Strain validation studies.
Methods: Integrative literature review. Research of studies carried out between 2000 and 2018 with the descriptors: caregivers, nursing diagnosis and validation study in the following databases: Web of Science, EBESCOhost, Scielo Brasil and Portugal, LILACS, RCAAP, CAPES, NANDA-I website, and in the bibliographic references of the articles. Articles in Portuguese, English or Spanish were included.
Results: The sample consisted of seven validation studies, with heterogeneity in the methodologies used. The populations where the diagnosis was clinically validated focused on caregivers for the elderly and people with chronic illness. The most prevalent defining characteristics were Stress and Apprehension related to the future.
Conclusions: This diagnosis requires further validation studies among different populations in search of greater accuracy and a reduction in the number of defining characteristics, facilitating the use of taxonomy.