Effect of family-centered empowerment program on quality of life and caregiving burden in family caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies: A quasi-experimental study.

Abstract

Purpose: Supporting family caregivers plays a crucial role in cancer management. This study aimed to determine the effect of a Family-Centered Empowerment Program (FCEP) on the quality of life and caregiving burden in family caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies.

Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group, conducted from April to September 2024. The participants were recruited through convenience sampling and then divided into an experimental (n = 33) and a control group (n = 33). The experimental group received a four-step FCEP, while the control group only received standard care. Data collection instruments included the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer and Novak and Guest's Caregiving Burden Inventory.

Results: The results showed that at baseline, there was no significant difference between experimental and control groups in terms of quality of life and care burden, however, one month after the implementation of the FCEP, there was a statistically significant difference in the economic concern dimension (Experimental: 21.96 ± 5.33 vs. Control: 18.0 ± 6.23; P = 0.009) and overall quality of life (Experimental: 78.06 ± 14.96 vs. Control: 69.03 ± 15.91; P = 0.024) between the experimental and control groups. Additionally, one month after the implementation of FCEP, there was a statistically significant difference in the time-dependent (Experimental: 9.12 ± 2.32 vs. Control: 12.54 ± 4.10; P < 0.001), social (Experimental: 4.18 ± 2.54 vs. Control: 6.22 ± 3.27; P = 0.008), and overall caregiving burden (Experimental: 32.06 ± 7.11 vs. Control: 39.96 ± 13.15; P = 0.004) between the experimental and control groups.

Conclusion: The findings of this study confirmed the effectiveness of the FCEP in improving caregivers' quality of life and reducing their care burden in various dimensions.