IMPACT OF A MULTI-COMPONENT NURSE-LED INTERVENTION ON PSYCHOSOCIAL OUTCOMES AMONG FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Family caregivers of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy experience significant psychosocial burden, heightened distress, and inadequate preparedness for caregiving. Nurse-led interventions targeting caregiver outcomes represent a promising yet underexplored strategy in the Indian oncology context.

Objectives: To assess baseline levels of preparedness for caregiving, burden, need fulfillment, perceived social support, depression, anxiety, and stress; to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured Nurse-Led Intervention Programme (NLIP) on these outcomes; and to determine the association of outcome measures with selected caregiver profile variables.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design with repeated measures was conducted at Shaleen Cancer Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. Fifty-four family caregivers were enrolled (experimental group n=26; control group n=28). The NLIP comprised four components: caregiver preparedness education, support group meetings, deep-breathing relaxation, and supportive telephonic follow-up, delivered over six weeks. Validated tools, including the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Reaction Assessment, Need Fulfillment Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), were employed. Independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used for analysis at a 0.05 significance level.

Results: At six-week follow-up, the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher preparedness for caregiving (30.85 vs. 23.75, p<0.001), improved need fulfillment (60.04 vs. 39.93, p<0.001), and greater perceived social support (45.08 vs. 27.57, p<0.001). Caregiver burden, depression, anxiety, and stress were all significantly reduced in the experimental group compared to controls (p<0.001). Duration of caregiving and daily caregiving hours showed statistically significant associations with most outcome measures.

Conclusion: The NLIP was effective in improving caregiver preparedness, need fulfillment, and perceived social support, while reducing burden and psychological distress among family caregivers of chemotherapy patients. Integration of structured nurse-led caregiver programmes into oncology nursing practice is strongly recommended.