Effectiveness of Nurse-led Intervention to Improve Quality of life for Family Caregivers of Children with Leukemia: A Quasi-Experimental Study from Karachi Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia accounts for 25% of all cancers in children less than 15 years old. The treatment phase of leukemia is lengthy and takes 2-3 years. Due to prolonged treatment, family caregivers often become exhausted, highly distressed with low quality of life and unsatisfactory patient outcomes. Thus, caregivers need interventions such as adaptation strategies and access to support groups that enhance their wellbeing and improves their quality of life (QoL).
 Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of nurse-led structured educational intervention for family caregivers having a child diagnosed with leukemia and to examine the association between socio-demographic variables and quality of life of leukemia child caregiver.
 Methodology: A Quasi-Experimental pre-post-test design was applied at the tertiary care hospital of Karachi. A total of 74 family caregivers of leukemia children were recruited from outpatient and inpatient oncology departments using purposive sampling. The data was collected pre-intervention and post-intervention using QoL-FV. Intervention of educational session given in 30-45 minutes for 4 days and after 1month of intervention, posttest done by same questionnaire to estimate the effect of nurse-led education
 Results: Study findings revealed that mean score of overall QoL improved after one-month of nurse-led educational intervention 95+ 23 and had a significant difference in post-test QOL (<0.001). The sub-dimensions of QoL such as physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, and social concern improved significantly in posttest interventions group (P< 0.01). Whereas the spiritual wellbeing was found insignificant after interventions (p>0.080). 
 Conclusion: The study suggests that Nurse-Led education program is helpful to improve family caregivers' quality of life during the treatment journey of their leukemia patient. it must be considered and acknowledged with prime importance and caregivers should be supported by health care professionals.
 Recommendation: It should be an important aspect to include counseling sessions of families to improve their coping, problem solving and awareness.