The Effect of Coping Skills Training on Family Caregivers' Burden of Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Cancer is known as one of the biggest health problems. One of the most important treatments for this disease is chemotherapy. Because chemotherapy is often time-consuming and challenging, and disabling for the patient, these patients' family caregivers are under much pressure to care for them during this period. This study aimed to investigate the effect of coping skills training on family caregivers' burden on cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

In this quasi-experimental study, 62 patients referred to two hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics questionnaire and Caring Burden Inventory (CBI). At the beginning of the study, the demographic profile and CBI form were completed by the study participants. The experimental group caregivers were then divided into groups of 5-8 people and were given coping skills training in three sessions of 45-60 minutes. Four weeks after the intervention, the CBI questionnaire was completed again by the study participants during the return to the hospital. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 18 using descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (chi-square, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, and paired t-test).

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups participating in the study in terms of demographic characteristics (P> 0.05); Also, the mean and standard deviation of the Care burden score in the control and test group participants before the intervention were 66.37 ±17.91 and 56.83 ± 14.89, and after the intervention were 75.18 ± 9.15 and 49.30 ±12.93 was reported. According to the results of the paired t-test, these changes were significant in both groups (P <0.001). The highest rate of reduction of burden pressure in the caregivers of the experimental group was related to the developmental dimension (P <0.016).

This study's findings showed the usefulness of using coping skills training method on the burden pressure of family caregivers of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Therefore, it is recommended that this useful and effective method be used to facilitate these caregivers' adaptation to the patient's condition more than before.