title: The Effects of a Patient-Caregiver Education and Follow-Up Program on the Breast Cancer Caregiver Strain Index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the caregiving responsibilities of cancer patients' family members have increased dramatically. Reducing caregiver strain and burden supports the mission of professional nursing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine and compare the caregiver strain index scores of breast cancer informal caregivers, before and after a patient-caregiver educational and telephone follow-up program.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an experimental two-group design study. Participants were recruited from an outpatient chemotherapy unit of the largest hematology and oncology research center in Northwest Iran. Thirty patient-caregiver pairs were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 2 face-to-face education sessions at bedside and 4 subsequent telephone follow-up sessions. The control group received routine care. Pre and post tests were administered in both groups pre and post intervention. To analyze the data, SPSS (13th version) software was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The caregiver strain index decreased significantly in the intervention group after the patient-caregiver education and follow-up (P < 0.001), while the control group's scores did not change (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that the patient-caregiver education and follow-up program had a beneficial effect on the caregiver strain index compared to the usual care.
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kochaki Nejad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohajjel Aghdam
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hassankhani
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sanaat
keywords: Breast Cancer; Caregivers; Education; Strain