The effect of caregiver educational program on caregiver reactions and lifestyle behaviors for caregivers of colorectal cancer patients: a quasi-experimental study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of the educational package provided to enhance family caregivers' experience of colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on healthy lifestyle and caregiving reactions.

Methods: The study was conducted as a pre-test-post-test, quasi-experimental intervention with a control group. The study population consisted of 100 caregivers who provide primary care to patients with colorectal cancer. The data were collected using the "Socio-Demographic Characteristics Data Collection Form," the "Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-II," and the "Caregiver Reaction Assessment" forms. The pre-test was applied to the experimental and control groups at the first interview. After the preliminary interview, the experimental group was applied three times to face-to-face individual educational sessions through the education booklet prepared by taking the opinions of 5 academician nurses who are experts in the oncology field. The post-test then was applied to the caregivers in the experimental and control groups.

Results: After the education provided to the experimental group, a statistically positive change was observed in the mean scores of all sub-dimensions of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-II except for the physical sub-dimension (the p values for interpersonal relationships, nutrition, health responsibility, physical activity, stress management, spiritual growth were p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.098, p = 0.035, and p = 0.018, respectively). In the control group, there was a statistically significant negative change in the post-test mean scores in all sub-dimensions of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale (the p values for self-esteem, lack of family support, financial problems, interruption of daily life, and health problems were p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.007, p = 0.004, p = 0.001 respectively). Lack of family support in caregivers negatively affected interpersonal relationships, nutrition (r =  - 0.465, p = 0.001, r =  - 300 p = 0.034 respectively), health responsibility, and spiritual growth (r =  - 0.514 p < 0,001, r =  - 384 p = 0.006).

Conclusion: It is important to interact with caregivers during the chemotherapy process to reduce problems in family members. Providing professional support through an education program reduces negative effects on caregivers, provides psychosocial support to caregivers and can improve patient outcomes.