Background: Informal caregivers of cancer patients often experience reduced self-efficacy, impaired quality of life (QOL), and high caregiving burden. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Comprehensive Caregiver Support on these outcomes. Methods: A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was conducted among 65 caregivers in a tertiary care hospital in North India. Participants were allocated to experimental (n=33) and comparison (n=32) groups. The intervention included deep breathing exercises, symptom management training, financial aid awareness, and device demonstration over five days. Outcomes were measured at baseline, day 7, and day 14 using CSE-8, AC-QOL, and Modified Caregiver Burden Scale. Independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA were applied. Results: Baseline scores were comparable between groups (p>0.05). At day 14, the experimental group showed significantly higher self-efficacy (68.52±3.24 vs 33.47±8.21), improved QOL (98.7±4.72 vs 55.7±6.87), and lower burden (19.36±5.85 vs 51.44±4.37) compared with controls (p=0.01). Large effect sizes were observed (Cohen’s d 5.61–7.27). Self-efficacy positively predicted QOL (β=0.627, p=0.001) and negatively predicted burden (β=-0.424, p=0.01). Conclusion: Comprehensive Caregiver Support significantly enhances self-efficacy and quality of life while reducing caregiving burden among cancer caregivers. Integrating structured caregiver training into oncology services may improve caregiver well-being.
Sharma et al. (Sun,) studied this question.