Background and Aims Caring for patients with epilepsy, creates many challenges for their family caregivers. The implementation of family-based interventions can facilitate the caring duty of caregivers and increase the quality of care for patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of family-based care program on care burden in family caregivers of patients with epilepsy.
Methods This clinical trial study was conducted in Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals in Shahrekord City, Iran for 7 months in 2016. Samples were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned in the intervention (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. For the intervention group, a family-centered care program was implemented including self-efficacy, self-esteem and evaluation, through education, support, problem solving and group discussion during four sessions. Data were collected by using Persian version of Zarit's burden of care scale from the intervention and control groups in three stages; before, immediately, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical t-test and ANOVA with repeated measurement in the SPSS.
Results The mean score of burden of care in the intervention and control groups were 37.42 and 34, respectively before the intervention (P<0.179). The mean score of care burden in the intervention and control groups immediately after the intervention was 21.36 and 28.7 , respectively and two months after the intervention was 15.78 and 27.92 respectively.
Conclusion The results showed that a simple, low-cost and feasibility program of family-based care has significantly reduced the care burden of caregivers of epilepsy patients. This family centered program can help to play a better role for family caregivers with physical and psychological stress.