The effect of a family need-based program on burden of caregivers of leukemia patients in Isfahan in 2013-2014

BACKGROUND: The family of cancer patients experience burden of care because of their caring role. Therefore, appropriate and effective interventions are essential in order to decrease burden. The goal of the present research was to determine the effect of a family need–based program on the burden of care in caregivers of leukemia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical research, 70 caregivers of leukemia patients who referred to Sayed Al-Shohada Medical Center in Isfahan, Iran were chosen and divided, through convenient sampling method and using table of random numbers, into two groups, experimental and control. Caregivers of the experimental group attended five training sessions. The data collection tool of this study was the Zarit Burden Scale. It was completed by members of both groups before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention. The data obtained were analyzed with SPSS software. RESULTS: During the study period, burden slowly decreased in the experimental group and increased in the control group. Mean burden of care score before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention was 63.6, 30.4, and 23.03, respectively, in the experimental group and 62.5, 67.3, and 68.8, respectively, in the control group. In addition, the mean burden score in the experimental group significantly decreased in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This family need–based program can decrease burden in caregivers of leukemia patients and may potentially improve the quality of life of both patients and caregivers.