Coping Psychoeducation for Family Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients

NCT07749339 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: KAEK-121 2026-29
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This quasi-experimental study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a six-week, nurse-led structured coping psychoeducation program for family caregivers of patients receiving palliative care. The study will examine the effects of the intervention on caregiver burden, coping strategies, and burnout using pre- and post-intervention assessments.

Conditions

Palliative Care; Caregiver Burden; Family Caregivers; Burnout

Keywords

Palliative Care; caregiver; psychoeducation; coping with stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Caregiving burden will be assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The ZBI is a validated self-report instrument that evaluates the perceived burden experienced by family caregivers. Higher scores indicate greater caregiving burden.

  Baseline (before the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention.

  At baseline and immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Coping Strategies

  At baseline and immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: Nurse-Led Coping Psychoeducation Program

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received a nurse-led structured coping psychoeducation program consisting of 12 sessions delivered over 6 weeks (two sessions per week, approximately 60-90 minutes per session). The program included psychoeducation on stress, coping strategies, communication, emotional regulation, problem-solving, relaxation techniques, and social support. Participants also continued to receive routine palliative care services.

Behavioral: coping psychoeducation program

Arm Title: Routine Care

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received routine palliative care services provided by the institution. No structured psychoeducation or additional intervention was delivered during the study period.

Other: Routine Care

Interventions

coping psychoeducation program BEHAVIORAL

A nurse-led structured coping psychoeducation program was delivered to family caregivers of palliative care patients over 6 weeks. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions, including an introductory meeting and weekly psychoeducation sessions focusing on palliative care, the caregiving role, stress and burnout, coping strategies, emotional regulation, relaxation techniques, self-care, communication, social support, problem-solving, resilience, and program evaluation. Sessions lasted approximately 40-60 minutes and were conducted in small groups using lectures, discussions, role-playing, case-based learning, practical exercises, and feedback. All participants in the intervention group also continued to receive routine palliative care services.

Experimental: Nurse-Led Coping Psychoeducation Program

Routine Care OTHER

Family caregivers received the routine care and education provided by the palliative care unit. No structured coping psychoeducation program was delivered during the study period.

Arm Title: Routine Care

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Family member serving as the primary caregiver of a patient admitted to the palliative care unit.
• Aged 18 years or older. No diagnosed psychiatric disorder. Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent. Able to attend the psychoeducation program regularly. Caregivers of patients admitted to Palliative Care Unit 1 were assigned to the experimental group.
• Caregivers of patients admitted to Palliative Care Unit 2 were assigned to the control group.

You may not qualify if:

• Previous participation in any psychoeducation or training program related to palliative care caregiving.
• Inability to complete the psychoeducation program or post-intervention assessments.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kastamonu University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kastamonu Unıversıty

Kastamonu, Merkez, 37100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Valero-Cantero I, Casals C, Espinar-Toledo M, Baron-Lopez FJ, Martinez-Valero FJ, Garcia-Agua Soler N, Vazquez-Sanchez MA. Effect of Self-Chosen Music in Alleviating the Burden on Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 6;20(5):4662. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054662.

  PMID: 36901671 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Caregiver Burden; Burnout, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Havva KAÇAN, associate professor

  Kastamonu University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER
• Masking Details: No masking was used because the behavioral psychoeducation intervention did not permit blinding of participants or the intervention provider.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Model Details: This study is a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest controlled study. Family caregivers of patients hospitalized in two separate palliative care units at Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital were allocated according to the unit of hospitalization. Caregivers of patients in Palliative Care Unit 1 received the nurse-led coping psychoeducation program (intervention group), while caregivers of patients in Palliative Care Unit 2 received routine care (control group). Outcomes were assessed before the intervention and after completion of the psychoeducation program.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 24, 2026
• First Posted: August 6, 2026
• Study Start: November 23, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 20, 2026
• Study Completion: June 20, 2026
• Last Updated: August 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)