The Effect of Web-Based Training on the Caregiving Burden of Family Caregivers of Patients with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Recognizing the family’s role as a vital source of support and care for cancer patients, along with the psychological burden borne by family caregivers, is crucial. Utilizing modern technologies presents a new approach to assisting these families. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of web-based training on the caregiving burden of family caregivers of patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on family caregivers of patients with breast cancer visiting the hematology department of Khatam Al Anbia Hospital in Zahedan in 2023. A total of 70 caregivers were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups (35 participants each). Caregivers in the intervention group received web-based training via a researcher-developed website for 20 days. The Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI; Novak & Guest, 1989) was administered to participants in both groups before and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with SPSS-27 software. A significance level of P < 0.05 was set for statistical analysis. Results: No significant difference was observed in the mean psychological burden scores between the two groups before the intervention (P = 0.68). However, ANCOVA analysis, controlling for the pre-test effect, revealed that the mean psychological burden score in the intervention group (77.42 ± 11.87) was significantly lower than that in the control group (85.82 ± 9.69) after the web-based training intervention (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The web-based training intervention significantly reduced the psychological burden of family caregivers of patients with breast cancer. This study demonstrates that a web-based training approach can effectively support family caregivers of cancer patients who are unable to attend in-person training sessions.