The effect of family-centered empowerment model on the Self-care ability of patients with colorectal cancer

Background and Aim: Colorectal cancer is a chronic disease that reduces the patients’ quality of life. Hence, it is essential to have self-care ability. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the family-centered empowerment model on the self-care ability of patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: The present study is a randomized controlled study. The statistical population consisted of all patients referring to the surgery ward of the colorectal clinic affiliated with Shahid Faghihi Hospital in Shiraz in 2018. A total of 72 patients were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly allocated into control and experimental groups. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. The duration of this study was 9 months. Results: The results show that the mean score of total self-care ability and its components in the experimental group after the intervention had a significant increase compared to baseline (p<0.001) and the mean score of total self-care ability and its components in patients in the control group after the intervention was significantly higher than before the intervention (p<0.05). Moreover, the score of total self-care ability and its components in patients in the experimental group increased significantly more than the control (p<0.001) .Lastly, the mean score of total self-care ability and its components (except for the visit component) after intervention in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control (p<0.05). Conclusion: The family-centered empowerment model can affect the self-care ability of patients with colorectal cancer. It is suggested that non-pharmacological interventions be combined with medical interventions in treatment plans.