Effectiveness of a Nursing Intervention to Modify Self-Efficacy and Burden in Hemato-Oncology Patients' Caregivers

Abstract

Introduction: Hemato-oncology patients will require caregivers to help them in the control of physical symptoms, prescribed therapies, emotional support, among others. Caregivers must prepare themselves, increase their confidence and motivation through self-efficacy in their role since if they feel competent to care, they will be better able to develop accordingly their role, decreasing the chances of being burdened. Materials and Methods: A quantitative quasi-experimental study was conducted with two groups, pre-test and post-test. The objective was to establish the effectiveness of a nursing intervention, when compared to the standard intervention, in modifying self-efficacy and burden in the role of hemato-oncology patients' caregivers. The General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Zarit Scale were used for the measurement. Results: The intervention is effective in modifying caregivers' self-efficacy, which can be observed in the comparison between the control group and experimental group, going from 25.8 to 29.8 (p=0.00) in the self-efficacy scale after the intervention, as well as going from 25.5 to 26.3 (p=0.00) in the experimental group. No significant differences were observed concerning the burden of the role of hemato-oncology patients' caregivers after the intervention. Discussion: An effective intervention from Resnick's nursing theory is provided for practice. Further studies are required to test the effectiveness of the intervention in other settings. Conclusions: Motivational nursing education interventions are relevant in practice and research to modify self-efficacy in hemato-oncology patients' caregivers.