The Effect of Online Supportive Program on Care Burden of Parents of Children with Leukemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Parents of children with cancer, especially leukemia, face many emotional and physical challenges, which can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. The online interventions have been recognized as an effective way to support parents in difficult situations.Aim: The present study was conducted with aim to evaluate the effects of an online supportive program on the care burden of parents of children with leukemia.Method: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted in ۲۰۲۰ on ۷۶ parents of children with leukemia hospitalized in the oncology department of Dr. Sheikh Hospital in Mashhad, Iran. The parents were randomly divided into two groups: intervention and control (n=۳۸ per group). The parents in the intervention group had access to an online support program via WhatsApp for one month. The parental caregiving burden was measured using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version ۲۰) and descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, independent t, paired t, and chi-square tests. p<۰.۰۵ was considered significant.Results: The mean care burden scores before the intervention did not differ significantly between the two groups (p=۰.۰۶۱). The mean parental care burden score in the intervention group before the intervention was ۴۵.۶۳±۴.۴۴, which decreased significantly to ۴۲.۸۱±۵.۰۷ after the intervention (p<۰.۰۱۵). However, the mean care burden score for the control group before the intervention was ۴۳.۹۴±۳.۱۷ and after the intervention was ۴۵.۱۳±۴.۵۰, showing no statistically significant difference (p<۰.۱۶۴). After the intervention, the care burden decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<۰.۰۵).Implications for Practice: Regular supportive programs can be developed and implemented for the main caregivers of patients with other chronic diseases and integrated into the health system.

کلیدواژه ها:

Care Burden ، Children ، Leukemia ، Nursing Support ، Online Support ، parents